Device, system and method of power-saving for wireless communication

1. A device including:

a wireless communication unit to relay communications between a wireless communication device and a base station,

wherein the wireless communication unit is to manage a power-saving mechanism of the wireless communication device by scheduling one or more power-save periods for the wireless communication device, and transmitting to the wireless communication device a power-save message indicating the one or more power-save periods,

wherein the wireless communication unit is to receive a power-save request from the wireless communication device,

wherein the wireless communication unit is to process the power-save request and to determine whether to accept the power save request and schedule the power-save periods according to the power save request,

and wherein, in response to the power-save request, the wireless communication unit is to transmit a power-save response to the wireless communication device, the power-save response indicating the one or more power save periods scheduled by said wireless communication unit.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication unit is to receive the power-save request directly from the wireless communication device, and to transmit a power-save response directly to the wireless communication device.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the power-save request includes a sleep-mode request, and wherein the power-save periods include sleep periods during which the wireless communication device is to operate at a sleep mode.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the power-save request includes an idle-mode request, and wherein the power-save periods include idle periods during which the wireless communication device is to operate at an idle mode.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication unit is to transmit a power-save update to be received by the base station, the power-save update indicating the one or more power-save periods.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication unit is to receive an idle-mode initiation request from the wireless communication device, to relay the idle-mode initiation request to the base station, to receive from the base station an idle-mode initiation response including one or more idle-mode parameters defining one or more idle-mode paging periods, and to relay the idle-mode initiation response to the wireless communication device.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication unit is to be assigned to a same paging group as the base station, and to receive from the base station an announcement of a paging message, and wherein the wireless communication unit is to broadcast the paging message to the paging group.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the wireless communication unit is to receive the announcement prior to a broadcast transmission of the paging message by the base station.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication unit is to receive from the wireless communication device a location update request to switch the wireless communication device between paging groups, and wherein the wireless communication unit is to relay the location update request to the base station.

10. A method including:

relaying, via a relay station, communications between a wireless communication device and a base station; and

managing at the relay station a power-saving mechanism of the wireless communication device by scheduling one or more power-save periods for the wireless communication device, and transmitting to the wireless communication device a power-save message indicating the one or more power-save periods,

wherein managing the power-saving mechanism includes receiving a power-save request from the wireless communication device, processing the power-save request to determine whether to accept the power save request and schedule the power-save periods according to the power save request, and transmitting a power-save response to the wireless communication device in response to the power-save request, the power-save response indicating the one or more power save periods.

11. The method of claim 10 including receiving an idle-mode initiation request from the wireless communication device, relaying the idle-mode initiation request to the base station, receiving from the base station an idle-mode initiation response including one or more idle-mode parameters defining one or more idle-mode paging periods, and relaying the idle-mode initiation response to the wireless communication device.

12. The method of claim 10 including transmitting a power-save update to be received by the base station, the power-save update indicating the one or more power-save periods.

13. The method of claim 10 including:

assigning the relay station to the same paging group as the base station;

receiving, at the relay station, an announcement of a paging message from the base station, prior to a broadcast transmission of the paging message by the base station; and

broadcasting the paging message from the relay station to the paging group.

14. The method of claim 10 including receiving, at the relay station, a location update request to switch the wireless communication device between paging groups, and relaying the location update request to the base station.

15. A wireless communication system including:

a wireless communication relay station to relay communications between a wireless communication device and a base station, the relay station including a wireless communication unit and one or more antennas,

wherein the wireless communication relay station is to manage a power-saving mechanism of the wireless communication device by scheduling one or more power-save periods for the wireless communication device, and transmitting to the wireless communication device a power-save message indicating the one or more power-save periods,

wherein the relay station is to receive a power-save request from the wireless communication device,

wherein the relay station is to process the power-save request and to determine whether to accept the power save request and schedule the power-save periods according to the power save request,

and wherein, in response to the power-save request, the relay station is to transmit a power-save response to the wireless communication device, the power-save response indicating the one or more power save periods scheduled by said relay station.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the wireless communication relay station is to receive an idle-mode initiation request from the wireless communication device, to relay the idle-mode initiation request to the base station, to receive from the base station an idle-mode initiation response including one or more idle-mode parameters defining one or more idle-mode paging periods, and to relay the idle-mode initiation response to the wireless communication device.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the wireless communication relay station is to transmit a power-save update to be received by the base station, the power-save update indicating the one or more power-save periods.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the wireless communication relay station is to be assigned to a same paging group as the base station, and to receive from the base station an announcement of a paging message, and wherein the wireless communication relay station is to broadcast the paging message to the paging group.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the wireless communication relay station is to receive from the wireless communication device a location update request to switch the wireless communication device between paging groups, and wherein the wireless communication relay station is to relay the location update request to the base station.