Network-relay signaling for downlink transparent relay

1. A method of providing downlink retransmissions to a mobile station in a wireless communication network, said wireless communication network comprising a base station communicatively linked to a transparent relay station, said method comprising:

at said base station:

receiving a request for a retransmission from said mobile station;

identifying said mobile station as requiring relay assistance prior to scheduling resources for said retransmission, wherein said identifying said mobile station as requiring relay assistance comprises identify said mobile station as being near a cell edge;

scheduling resources for said retransmission; and

signalling scheduling information for said retransmission to said transparent relay station via a control link, wherein said transparent relay station transmits, using the scheduling information, said retransmission to said mobile device concurrently with said base station.

2. A method of providing downlink retransmissions to a mobile station in a wireless communication network, said wireless communication network comprising a base station communicatively linked to a transparent relay station, said method comprising:

at said transparent relay station:

receiving, from the base station, scheduling information via a control link for retransmission to a mobile station; and

sending the retransmission to the mobile station in a retransmit subframe on a retransmit frequency band, wherein said transparent relay station transmits, using the scheduling information, said retransmission to said mobile device concurrently with said base station.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending, at the base station, said retransmission to said mobile station in a retransmit subframe on a retransmit frequency band.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said control link occupies a retransmit frequency band.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said control link occupies a designated frequency band, said designated frequency band being different than a retransmit frequency band.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said signalling said scheduling information for said retransmission occurs in a scheduling subframe, and a retransmit subframe is consecutive to said scheduling subframe.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said signalling said scheduling information for said retransmission occurs in a retransmit subframe.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein said control link occupies a retransmit frequency band.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein said control link occupies a designated frequency band, said designated frequency band being different than a retransmit frequency band.

10. The method of claim 2 , wherein said scheduling information occurs in a scheduling subframe, and a retransmit subframe is consecutive to said scheduling subframe.

11. The method of claim 2 , wherein said scheduling information occurs in a retransmit subframe.

12. A base station for providing downlink retransmissions to a mobile station in a wireless communication network, comprising:

one or more processors configured to:

receive a request for a retransmission from said mobile station;

identify said mobile station as requiring relay assistance prior to scheduling resources for said retransmission, wherein said identifying said mobile station as requiring relay assistance comprises identify said mobile station as being near a cell edge;

schedule resources for said retransmission; and

signal scheduling information for said retransmission to a transparent relay station via a control link, wherein said transparent relay station transmits, using the scheduling information, said retransmission to said mobile device concurrently with said base station.

13. A transparent relay station for providing downlink retransmissions to a mobile station in a wireless communication network, comprising:

one or more processors configured to:

receive, from a base station, scheduling information via a control link for a retransmission to a mobile station, wherein, prior to transmitting scheduling resources for said retransmission, the base station identifies said mobile station as requiring relay assistance including identifying said mobile station as being near a cell edge; and

send the retransmission to the mobile station in a retransmit subframe on a retransmit frequency band, wherein said transparent relay station transmits, using the scheduling information, said retransmission to said mobile device concurrently with said base station.

14. The transparent relay station of claim 12 , the one or more processors further configured to send, at the base station, said retransmission to said mobile station in a retransmit subframe on a retransmit frequency band.

15. The transparent relay station of claim 12 , wherein said control link occupies a retransmit frequency band.

16. The transparent relay station of claim 12 , wherein said control link occupies a designated frequency band, said designated frequency band being different than a retransmit frequency band.

17. The transparent relay station of claim 12 , wherein said signalling said scheduling information for said retransmission occurs in a scheduling subframe, and a retransmit subframe is consecutive to said scheduling subframe.

18. The transparent relay station of claim 12 , wherein said signalling said scheduling information for said retransmission occurs in a retransmit subframe.

19. The transparent relay station of claim 12 , the one or more processors further configured to identify, at the base station, as requiring relay assistance prior to scheduling resources for said retransmission.

20. The transparent relay station of claim 19 , wherein said identifying said mobile station as requiring relay assistance comprises identify said mobile station as being near a cell edge.

21. The transparent relay station of claim 13 , wherein said control link occupies a retransmit frequency band.

22. The transparent relay station of claim 13 , wherein said control link occupies a designated frequency band, said designated frequency band being different than a retransmit frequency band.

23. The transparent relay station of claim 13 , wherein said scheduling information occurs in a scheduling subframe, and a retransmit subframe is consecutive to said scheduling subframe.

24. The transparent relay station of claim 13 , wherein said scheduling information occurs in a retransmit subframe.