Multi-hop network topology system and method

1. A wireless communication method for a network having a tree topology, the method comprising:

selecting an initial path from a base station to an end relay node, the initial path selection including an active communication path and a redundant communication path, the initial path selection being based on at least one policy factor;

measuring, at a relay node, a sequence received from a neighboring relay node to determine the at least one policy factor, wherein measuring the sequence received from the neighboring relay node includes:

randomly selecting a monitoring cycle from a monitoring cycle selection base, the monitoring cycle selection base comprising a plurality of preamble cycles;

stopping transmission of a relay node preamble during the selected monitoring cycle; and

transmitting relay node preambles during the remaining preamble cycles of the monitoring cycle selection base other than the selected monitoring cycle; and

updating the initial path selection based on a change to the at least one policy factor determined from the measured sequence.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network is an IEEE 802.16j network.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the active communication path and the redundant communication path are defined as an equivalent path from the base station to the end relay node.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the active communication path and the redundant communication path are defined as a primary path and assistant path, respectively, from the base station to the end relay node.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the initial path selection is distributed and is determined at least in part by a relay node.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the initial path selection is centralized and is determined by a base station.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing a topology table corresponding to a local topology;

detecting a change in the local topology; and

requesting a path selection update.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein an architecture of the topology is a hierarchical topology, the hierarchical topology including a master relay node supporting a group of relay nodes.

9. A wireless communication system for a network having a tree topology, the system comprising:

a base station;

a first relay node in communication with the base station; and

a second relay node in direct communication with at least one of the base station and the first relay node, an active communication path being established based at least in part on a first policy factor from the base station to the second relay node and a redundant communication path being established based at least in part on a second policy factor from the base station to the second relay node, the redundant communication path being different than the active communication path and at least one of the active communication path and the redundant communication path including the first relay node;

wherein the first policy factor is determined by measuring a first sequence received from a first neighboring relay node and the second policy factor is determined by measuring a second sequence received from a second neighboring relay node; and

wherein the first relay node and the second relay node are configured to:

each randomly select a monitoring cycle from a monitoring cycle selection base, the monitoring cycle selection base comprising a plurality of preamble cycles;

stop transmission of a relay node preamble during the selected monitoring cycle; and

transmit relay node preambles during the remaining preamble cycles of the monitoring cycle selection base other than the selected monitoring cycle.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the network is an IEEE 802.16j network.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the active communication path and the redundant communication path are defined as an equivalent path from the base station to the second relay node.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the active communication path and the redundant communication path are defined as a primary path and assistant path, respectively, from the base station to the second relay node.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the active and redundant communication paths are selected by the second relay node.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the base station includes a storage device storing a topology table corresponding to a local topology, and wherein the base station operates to detect a change in the local topology and requests a path selection update, the path selection update comprising the active communication path and the redundant communication path.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein an architecture of the topology is a hierarchical topology, and wherein at least one of the first relay node and the second relay node is a master relay node supporting a group of relay nodes.