Patent ID: 8059590

Claim:
A method for allocating bandwidth at a relay station in a multi-hop cellular communication network, comprising the steps of: transmitting a first bandwidth allocation request from the relay station to at least a first base station and a second base station; receiving, at the relay station, a first bandwidth allocation value from the first base station in response to the first bandwidth allocation request; receiving, at the relay station, a second bandwidth allocation value from the second base station in response to the first bandwidth allocation request; comparing, by the relay station, the first bandwidth allocation value with the second bandwidth allocation value; receiving, at the relay station, a second bandwidth allocation request from a mobile station; and responsive to receipt of the second bandwidth allocation request and the comparing step, transmitting a third bandwidth allocation value from the relay station to at least the mobile station, the third bandwidth allocation value including at least one of the first bandwidth allocation value and the second bandwidth allocation value.