System for enabling mobile coverage extension and peer-to-peer communications in an ad hoc network and method of operation therefor

1. A method for providing communication capability between a plurality of nodes comprising 802.16e nodes and 802.16m ad hoc capable nodes, the method comprising:

providing an IEEE 802.16m frame structure having at least an uplink portion, a downlink portion, and an ad hoc zone for communication among the plurality of nodes; and

communicating among the plurality of nodes including at least one of:

synchronizing out of coverage nodes using at least one synchronization channel of the ad hoc zone,

performing peer-to-peer communications between the plurality of nodes using at least one access channel of the ad hoc zone, and

exchanging data during data sessions between the plurality of nodes using at least one ad hoc relay data/traffic channel of the ad hoc zone.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the communication among the plurality of nodes further includes:

permitting routing and resource negotiations between the ad hoc capable nodes by enabling the access channel in the ad hoc zone.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the communication among the plurality of nodes further includes:

negotiating resources of the ad hoc relay traffic/data channel between one or more peer nodes of the plurality of nodes based on local measurements of the ad hoc relay traffic/data channel.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the ad hoc network further comprises a base station, the method further comprising:

allocating resources of the ad hoc relay traffic/data channel based upon base station selection.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

the synchronization channel, the access channel, and the ad hoc relay data/traffic channel are each allocated within a primary frequency band.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

the synchronization channel and the access channel are each allocated within a primary frequency band; and

the ad hoc relay data/traffic channel is allocated within an alternate frequency band.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the IEEE 802.16m frame structure further comprises:

a control channel information element, wherein the control channel information element comprises a logical channel providing a redirection to utilize an alternate frequency band.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the alternate frequency band comprises a spectrum selected from a group comprising: a licensed spectrum, an unlicensed spectrum, and an opportunistic spectrum.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the synchronization channel contains one or more parameters selected from a group comprising: parameters to support network synchronization paging channel elements, a paging group identifier, a network identifier, state information, Ad Hoc Data Channel descriptors, a size of the Ad Hoc Zone, a periodicity of the Ad Hoc Zone, a size of Ad Hoc channels, and a periodicity of Ad Hoc channels.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the access channel provides communications of one or more messages selected from a group of messages comprising a broadcast message, a multicast message, and a unicast message.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

providing simultaneous access to the access channel.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the access channel comprises:

a first portion access channel for communicating routing messages; and

a second portion access channel for communicating direct link resource negotiation messages.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

communicating a change in a pattern of the synchronization channel, the access channel, and the ad hoc relay data/traffic channel of the ad hoc zone in a synchronization channel of a change message.