Patent ID: 8391195

Claim:
A method of operating a wireless communication device, the method comprising: establishing an assisted wireless link between the wireless communication device and an assisted wireless communication device by at least exchanging overhead communications over a setup communication link to establish the assisted wireless link, wherein the assisted wireless link comprises a first wireless communication mode that requires tuning to a first frequency spectrum and wherein the setup communication link comprises a third wireless communication mode that requires tuning to a third frequency spectrum; establishing a transport wireless link between the wireless communication device and a wireless access node, wherein the transport wireless link comprises a second wireless communication mode that requires tuning to a second frequency spectrum; receiving forward communications for the assisted wireless communication device from the wireless access node over the transport wireless link; transferring the forward communications over the assisted wireless link for receipt by the assisted wireless communication device; receiving reverse communications transferred by the assisted wireless communication device over the assisted wireless link; and transferring the reverse communications for receipt by the wireless access node over the transport wireless link.