Apparatus and method for managing connection identifiers in multi-hop relay broadband wireless access system

1. A communication method for an upper node in a communication system, the communication method comprising:

assigning a Connection IDentifier (CID) set to a Relay Station (RS) in a CID assignment message, wherein the CID set comprises a plurality of unassigned CIDs;

transmitting the CID assignment message to the RS;

receiving a message for reporting at least one CID assigned by the RS to a lower node of the RS, from the RS; and

updating a database for managing CID use based on the message for reporting from the RS;

wherein the CID is used for managing the connection between the upper node and the lower node; and

wherein the CID set includes successive CIDs.

2. The communication method of claim 1 , wherein the CID assignment message includes information on first and last CIDs of the successive CIDs.

3. The communication method of claim 1 , wherein the upper node includes a Base Station (BS) or an upper RS.

4. The communication method of claim 1 , wherein the lower node includes a Mobile Station (MS) or a lower RS.

5. The communication method of claim 1 , wherein the CID set assigned to the RS includes at least one of a primary management CID and a basic CID.

6. The communication method of claim 1 , wherein the CID set is assigned to the RS by the upper node in a separate signaling procedure after the RS registers with the upper node.

7. The communication method of claim 1 , wherein the communication system is an OFDM system.

8. A communication method for a Relay Station (RS) in a communication system, the communication method comprising:

receiving a Connection IDentifier (CID) assignment message including information on a CID set from an upper node, wherein the CID set comprises a plurality of unassigned CIDs;

configuring a database for managing the CID set according to the CID assignment message;

receiving a ranging request (RNG-REQ) message from a lower node;

assigning at least one CID from the CID set to the lower node;

transmitting a ranging response (RSG-RSP) message including the at least one CID assigned to the lower node; and

transmitting a message for reporting the at least one CID assigned by the RS to the lower node, to the upper node;

wherein the CID is used for managing the connection between the upper node and the lower node; and

wherein the CID set includes successive CIDs.

9. The communication method of claim 8 , wherein the CID assignment message includes information on first and last CIDs of the successive CIDs.

10. The communication method of claim 8 , wherein the upper node includes a Base Station (BS) or an upper RS.

11. The communication method of claim 8 , wherein the lower node includes a Mobile Station (MS) or a lower RS.

12. The communication method of claim 8 , wherein the CID assigned to the lower node includes at least one of a primary management CID and a basic CID.

13. The communication method of claim 8 , wherein the CID set is assigned to the RS by the upper node in a separate signaling procedure after the RS registers with the upper node.

14. The communication method of claim 8 , wherein the communication system is an OFDM system.

15. An upper node in a communication system, comprising:

a controller for assigning a Connection IDentifier (CID) set to a Relay Station (RS) in a CID assignment message, wherein the CID set comprises a plurality of unassigned CIDs;

a transmitter for transmitting the CID assignment message to the RS;

a receiver for receiving a message for reporting at least one CID of the CID set was assigned by the RS to a lower node of the RS; and

a database for managing CID use based on the message for reporting from the RS;

wherein the CID is used for managing the connection between the upper node and the lower node; and

wherein the CID set comprises successive CIDs.

16. The upper node of claim 15 , the CID assignment message comprises information on first and last CIDs of the successive CIDs.

17. The upper node of claim 15 , wherein the upper node includes a Base Station (BS) or an upper RS.

18. The upper node of claim 15 , wherein the lower node includes a Mobile Station (MS) or a lower RS.

19. The upper node of claim 15 , wherein the CID set assigned to the RS includes at least one of a primary management CID and a basic CID.

20. The upper node of claim 15 , wherein the CID set is assigned to the RS by the upper node in a separate signaling procedure after the RS registers with the upper node.

21. The upper node of claim 15 , wherein the communication system is an OFDM system.

22. A Relay Station (RS) in a communication system, comprising:

a receiver for receiving a Connection IDentifier (CID) assignment message including information on a CID set from an upper node, wherein the CID set comprises a plurality of unassigned CIDs;

a controller for configuring a database for managing the CID set according to the CID assignment message; and

a transmitter;

wherein the receiver receives a ranging request (RNG-REQ) message from a lower node, the controller assigns at least one CID from the CID set to the lower node, and the transmitter transmits a ranging response (RSG-RSP) message including the at least one CID assigned to the lower node and transmits a message for reporting the at least one CID of the CID set assigned by the RS to the lower node, to the upper node;

wherein the CID is used for managing the connection between the upper node and the lower node; and

wherein the CID set comprises successive CIDs.

23. The RS of claim 22 , wherein the CID assignment message includes information on first and last CIDs of the successive CIDs.

24. The RS of claim 22 , wherein the lower node comprises a Mobile Station (MS) or a lower RS.

25. The RS of claim 22 , wherein the upper node includes a Base Station (BS) or an upper RS.

26. The RS of claim 22 , wherein the CID assigned to the lower node includes at least one of a primary management CID and a basic CID.

27. The RS of claim 22 , wherein the CID set is assigned to the RS by the upper node in a separate signaling procedure after the RS registers with the upper node.

28. The RS of claim 22 , wherein the communication system is an OFDM system.