Importance

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Abstract

A method of assessing a potential communication link in a wireless communication system, the system comprising a source apparatus, a destination apparatus and at least one intermediate apparatus, said source apparatus being operable to transmit information in a communication direction towards the destination apparatus either directly along a single communication link or indirectly along a communication path via the or each intermediate apparatus, and the or each intermediate apparatus being operable to receive information from a previous communication apparatus along said path in said communication direction and to transmit the received information to a subsequent apparatus along said path in said communication direction, the method comprising: for a potential communication link between a particular said intermediate apparatus and another apparatus of the communication system, establishing whether said other apparatus is of a first type or of a second type different from said first type; determining whether said link is suitable for communication in a first mode or in a second mode in dependence upon the established type of said other apparatus; and if it is determined that said potential link is suitable for communication in said first mode, concluding a link initiation process in order to enable communication in said first mode along that link.

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First Claim