Relaying data in a communication system

1. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, where the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:

transmit from an originating node broadcast information of a radio resource that is allocated to a destined node, wherein the transmitting comprises broadcasting said information to the destined node and at least one relay node, and wherein the radio resource comprises a reserved at least one of a radio frequency and a time resource that is receivable by the originating node and the at least one relay node;

in response to the transmitting, receive communications on the allocated radio resource from the destined node; and

allocate radio resources and control with the originating node, based on the received communications on the allocated resource from the destined node, a data relaying process between the apparatus and the destined node.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to process a pilot obtained from a broadcasting by the destined node on the allocated radio resource.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to communicate information about the allocated radio resource to the at least one relay node.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to communicate information of at least one of a destined node identity and a quality of service requirement to the at least one relay node.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to instruct a lesser than available number of relay nodes to relay data to the destined node.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to send scheduling instructions to the at least one relay node for communication with the destined node.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to make at least one decision regarding relaying of data to the destined node based on communication by the destined node on the allocated radio resource before delivery of data to the at least one relay node.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to determine, based on at least one of communication on the allocated radio resource and feedback information from at least one relay node, an appropriate manner of communication with the destined node.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to determine if data is communicated on a broadcast channel or a dedicated channel.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to broadcast a release relay process indication.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to allocate a radio subband resource for sole use by the destined node and to communicate on other subbands.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, where the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:

receive from an originating node broadcast information of a radio resource allocated to a destined node and communications on the allocated radio resource, wherein the radio resource comprises a reserved at least one of a radio frequency and a time resource that is receivable by the originating node and at least one relay node;

communicate with other nodes; and

monitor for communications on the allocated resource by the destined node and control relaying of data between the originating node and the destined node based on the monitoring.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to determine information relating to a parameter indicative of the quality of the radio channel between the apparatus and the destined node and to compare the parameter with a threshold.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to determine a value of the parameter based on the communications on the allocated resource.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to determine, based on communications on the allocated resource, at least one of:

if the apparatus is configured to take part in relaying of data to the destined node;

if the apparatus needs to take part in relaying data between to the destined node; and

if the apparatus shall refrain from relaying of data to the destined node.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus is configured to determine, based on an acknowledgement message by the destined node, that relaying of data is not needed.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , comprising a mobile user device.

18. A method, comprising:

providing by an originating node, broadcast information of a radio resource allocated to a destined node in a wireless communication system, wherein the providing comprises broadcasting said information to the destined node and at least one relay node, and wherein the radio resource comprises a reserved at least one of a radio frequency and a time resource that is receivable by the originating node and the at least one relay node;

monitoring for communications on the allocated resource from the destined node; and

controlling relaying of data between the originating node and the destined node based on the monitoring.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the communications comprise broadcasting by the destined node on the allocated radio resource.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the communications on the allocated resource comprise communication of a pilot signal.

21. The method as claimed in claim 18 , comprising communicating information about the allocated radio resource to the at least one relay node.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21 , further comprising communication of information of at least one of a destined node identity and a quality of service requirement.

23. The method as claimed in claim 18 , comprising determining, at the at least one relay node, based on communications on the allocated resource, at least one of

if the at least one relay node is configured to take part in relaying of data between the originating node and the destined node;

if the at least one relay node needs to take part in relaying data between the originating node and the destined node; and

if the at least one relay node shall refrain from relaying of data between the originating node and the destined node.

24. The method as claimed in claim 18 , comprising determining the quality of a radio channel between the at least one relay node and the destined node based on the communications on the allocated resource.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24 , comprising determining if achievable transmission bit-rate equals to or is greater than a threshold.

26. The method as claimed in claim 18 , comprising instructing a lesser number of relay nodes than is available to relay data to the destined node.

27. The method as claimed in claim 18 , comprising providing scheduling instructions by the originating node.

28. The method as claimed in claim 18 , comprising making at least one decision regarding the relay process based on communication by the destined node on the allocated radio resource before delivery of data to the at least one relay node.

29. The method as claimed in claim 18 , comprising determining, based on at least one of communication on the allocated radio resource and feedback information from the at least one relay node, an appropriate manner of communication with the destined node.

30. The method as claimed in claim 18 , comprising broadcasting from the originating node a release relay process indication.

31. The method as claimed in claim 18 , comprising determining at the at least one relay node based on an acknowledgement message by the destined node that the relaying of data can be released.

32. The method as claimed in claim 18 , comprising allocating a radio subband resource for sole use by the destined node and allowing communications by at least one of the other nodes on other subbands.

33. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a computer program comprising program code means adapted to perform the method according to claim 18 when the computer program is run on a processor.

34. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the processor is for a station of a mobile communication system.

35. A communication system comprising:

an originating node comprising a transmitter configured to transmit broadcast information of a radio resource that is allocated to a destined node, wherein the transmitting comprises broadcasting said information to the destined node and at least one relay node, and wherein the radio resource comprises a reserved at least one of a radio frequency and a time resource that is receivable by the originating node and the at least one relay node;

a receiver configured to receive communications on the allocated radio resource from the destined node; and

a controller configured to allocate radio resources and to control, based on communications on the allocated resource from the destined node, a data relaying process between the communication node and the destined node,

said communication system further comprising a relay node comprising a receiver configured to receive information of the radio resource allocated to the destined node and communications on the allocated radio resource;

a transmitter configured to communicate with other nodes; and

a controller configured to monitor for communications on the allocated resource by the destined node and to control relaying of data between the originating node and the destined node based on the monitoring.

36. The controller for a communications device, configured to monitor for communications on a radio resource that has been allocated to a destined node and to control relaying of data between an originating node and the destined node based on the monitoring.

37. The controller as claimed in claim 36 , configured to monitor for a pilot signal by the destined node on the allocated radio resource, to determine a value of at least one channel characteristic based on the pilot signal, to compare the value with a threshold and to decide based on the comparison whether data is to be relayed to the destined node.