Communications path selection in wireless communications systems

摘要

A method of managing communications in a wireless communications system comprises estimating at least one metric of energy efficiency associated with communicating over each of one or more of a plurality of communications links, said one or more of the plurality of communications links included in one or more of a plurality of communications paths between a first apparatus of the system and a second apparatus of the system, said one or more of the plurality of communications paths comprising at least one of a direct wireless communications path between the first and second apparatuses and an indirect wireless communications path between the first and second apparatuses via at least a third apparatus of the system; and selecting at least one of said plurality of communications paths for communication between the first and second apparatuses dependent, at least, on the or one of the estimated metrics of energy efficiency.