Patent ID: 7577121

Claim:
A method of scheduling mobile units in a wireless telecommunications network including first and second wireless connection points having a wireless communication link therebetween, the first wireless connection point being communicatively connected to a network, comprising: determining a first number of mobile units having a wireless communication link with the first wireless connection point; determining a second number of mobile units having a wireless communication link with the second wireless connection point, the second number of mobile units using the wireless communication link between the first and second wireless connection points as a wireless backhaul link for communication with the network, wherein determining the second number of mobile units having the wireless communication link with the second wireless connection point comprises receiving, at the first wireless connection point, information indicative of the second number of mobile units having the wireless telecommunications link with the second wireless connection point; and scheduling the mobile units based upon the first and second numbers of mobile units so that the first and second numbers of mobile units have fair access to wireless communication resources provided by the first wireless connection point.