Relay

1. A method of operation of a device in a cellular communications network, such that the device acts as a relay in a backhaul link between a first base station and the network, the method comprising:

detecting signals transmitted by base stations in the network;

identifying the first base station amongst the base stations;

causing a transmit signal from the first base station to be suppressed;

selecting a second base station amongst the base stations based on properties of the detected signals; and

establishing a connection with the second base station.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying the first base station amongst the base stations based on the properties of the detected signals.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

identifying the first base station as being a base station amongst the base stations having a highest signal strength.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

identifying the at least one first base station as being a base station amongst the base stations having a shortest link delay for transmissions from the base station received by the device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the second base station based on the properties of the detected signals comprises selecting a base station based on a detected signal strength, based on a measure of signal quality, or based on an available data rate.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the signals transmitted by the base stations in the network comprises adjusting an antenna beam direction or antenna beam shape.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

storing information identifying an antenna beam direction or antenna beam shape corresponding to the base stations in the network from which signals were detected.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing the connection with the second base station comprises adjusting an antenna beam direction or antenna beam shape such that the antenna beam direction or antenna beam shape matches a direction of the second base station.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein establishing the connection with the second base station comprises adjusting an antenna beam direction or antenna beam shape such that the antenna beam direction or antenna beam shape matches a direction of the second base station, as determined while detecting the signals transmitted by the base stations in the network.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

having establishing the connection with the second base station, further adjusting the antenna beam direction or antenna beam shape in order to perform a handover to an alternative base station, if instructed to do so.

11. A method of operation of a device in a cellular communications network, such that the device acts as a relay in a backhaul link between a first base station and the network, the method comprising:

causing the first base station to interrupt its transmissions;

detecting signals transmitted by base stations in the network during the interruption of transmissions from the first base station;

selecting one of the base stations based on properties of the detected signals; and

establishing a connection with the selected base station.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

causing the first base station to interrupt its transmissions for a duration of one transmit interval; and

detecting signals transmitted by the base stations in the network during said one transmit interval.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

causing the first base station to interrupt its transmissions for a duration of time that does not result in active calls being dropped; and

detecting signals transmitted by the base stations in the network during said duration of time.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of detecting signals transmitted by base stations in the network comprises adjusting an antenna beam direction or antenna beam shape.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

causing the first base station to interrupt its transmissions for a duration of time that does not result in active calls being dropped, but is long enough to allow the device to detect a strength of signals received from surrounding base stations and to adjust its antenna beam direction or antenna beam shape between detecting signals from different base stations.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein selecting one of the base stations based on the properties of the detected signals comprises selecting a base station based on the detected signal strength, based on a measure of signal quality, or based on an available data rate or based on cell identification.

17. A method of operation of a control device, the method comprising:

detecting transmissions from one or more base station, and determining transmit time intervals thereof;

initiating suppression of transmit signals from the one or more base station during at least one subsequent transmit interval; and

detecting signals transmitted by at least one other base station during said subsequent transmit interval.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

performing the suppression in radio hardware of the one or more base station.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

performing the suppression by an externally controlled attenuator between a power amplifier output and a transmit antenna of the one or more base station.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

detecting signals transmitted by the at least one other base station during said subsequent transmit interval by adjusting a beam shaping antenna to scan a surrounding area.

21. The method of claim 17 , comprising:

determining signal metrics of the detected signals transmitted by the at least one other base station.

22. The method of claim 17 , comprising:

demodulating the detected signals transmitted by the at least one other base station.