Abstract: A method of scheduling the handling of communication channels by a processor assigned to handle a plurality of channels. The method includes determining for each channel, handled by the processor, a target time by which time it should receive processing, selecting one or more of the assigned channels whose data is to be handled next, based on the target times of the channels and when more than one channel is selected, choosing for handling before other channels, at least one of the selected channels based on a consideration directed at minimizing the average processing time of the channels.