Apparatus and methods for extended base station range using staggered uplink frame structures

Abstract

A first group of terminals at a first range from base station is instructed, e.g., by transmitted timing advance values, to time their transmissions to arrive at a base station in synchronism with a first series of frames. A second group of terminals at a second range is instructed to time their transmissions to arrive at the base station in synchronism with a second series of frames that is time-offset with respect to the first series of frames. Transmissions from the first and second groups of terminals are, received at the base station in synchronism with the respective first and second series of frames. The transmissions from respective first and second groups may be received on respective separate carrier frequencies, or may be multiplexed on a common carrier frequency. According to another aspect, first timing information is transmitted by a base station to a terminal when the terminal is in a first range, and second timing information is transmitted to the terminal when the terminal is in a second range, the first and second timing information instructing the terminal to time its transmissions to arrive at the base station synchronized with one of first or second time-offset series of frames. The ranges may overlap, and the hysteresis may be provided in instructing the terminal to synchronize its transmissions to one of the first series of frames or the second series of frames when the terminal moves between the first and second ranges. Related wireless communications apparatus is discussed.