Communication units and methods for relay-assisted uplink communication

摘要

A relay device for supporting uplink communication between a terminal device and a base station is described. The relay device comprises at least one receiver arranged to receive a downlink message from the base station; a control processor, operably coupled to the at least one receiver and arranged to determine from the downlink message information identifying an uplink control resource to be used by the terminal device; and a transmitter, operably coupled to the control processor and arranged to relay received periodic uplink control channel messages on the identified uplink control resource from the terminal device to the base station.