Abstract: A communication network element comprises traffic scheduler logic capable of scheduling transmission of a first category of queued traffic across a backhaul interface in accordance with a rate control value. The communication network element further comprises traffic manager logic capable of scheduling transmission of a second category of queued traffic across the backhaul interface in accordance with a determined backhaul bandwidth allocation, the backhaul bandwidth allocation being based on a determination of available bandwidth across the backhaul interface not required for scheduled first category traffic.

Abstract: A communication network element comprises traffic scheduler logic capable of scheduling transmission of a first category of queued traffic across a backhaul interface in accordance with a rate control value. The communication network element further comprises traffic manager logic capable of scheduling transmission of a second category of queued traffic across the backhaul interface in accordance with a determined backhaul bandwidth allocation, the backhaul bandwidth allocation being based on a determination of available bandwidth across the backhaul interface not required for scheduled first category traffic.

Abstract: A communication network element comprises traffic scheduler logic capable of scheduling transmission of a first category of queued traffic across a backhaul interface in accordance with a rate control value. The communication network element further comprises traffic manager logic capable of scheduling transmission of a second category of queued traffic across the backhaul interface in accordance with a determined backhaul bandwidth allocation, the backhaul bandwidth allocation being based on a determination of available bandwidth across the backhaul interface not required for scheduled first category traffic.

Abstract: A communication network element (536) comprises a transmitter (535) for transmitting at least one timing data packet to at least one further network element (524) over both a first communication link and a second communication link and a receiver (537) for receiving two timing data packets from the at least one further network element (524) over the second communication link. The communication network element (536) further comprises signal processing logic (538) operably coupled to the transmitter and receiver and arranged to calculate a transit delay of the at least one timing data packet over the first communication link based on the received two timing data packets from the at least one further network element (524) over the second communication link, wherein the signal processing logic (538) is capable of scheduling at least one transmission across the first communication link to the at least one further network element (524) in response thereto.

Abstract: A communication network element (536) comprises a transmitter (535) for transmitting at least one timing data packet to at least one further network element (524) over both a first communication link and a second communication link and a receiver (537) for receiving two timing data packets from the at least one further network element (524) over the second communication link. The communication network element (536) further comprises signal processing logic (538) operably coupled to the transmitter and receiver and arranged to calculate a transit delay of the at least one timing data packet over the first communication link based on the received two timing data packets from the at least one further network element (524) over the second communication link, wherein the signal processing logic (538) is capable of scheduling at least one transmission across the first communication link to the at least one further network element (524) in response thereto.

Abstract: A system is provided for scheduling data from a network element (101), such as an RNC (101), of a cellular communication system to at least one base station (103) across a shared communication link (105) shared between a plurality of cell sectors (107-111). The apparatus comprises resource allocators (113, 115, 117) each of which schedules data for a single cell sector (107-111). A resource determination processor (119) dynamically determines a resource requirement parameter for at least one of the cell sectors (107-111). The resource determination processor (119) is coupled to a resource assignment processor (121) which dynamically assigns a resource availability of the shared communication link (105) to each of the resource allocators (113, 115, 117) in response to the resource requirement parameter. The resource allocators (113, 115, 117) then schedule data for communication over the shared communication link in response to the resource availability.

Abstract: A communication network element (536) comprises a transmitter (535) for transmitting at least one timing data packet to at least one further network element (524) over both a first communication link and a second communication link and a receiver (537) for receiving two timing data packets from the at least one further network element (524) over the second communication link. The communication network element (536) further comprises signal processing logic (538) operably coupled to the transmitter and receiver and arranged to calculate a transit delay of the at least one timing data packet over the first communication link based on the received two timing data packets from the at least one further network element (524) over the second communication link, wherein the signal processing logic (538) is capable of scheduling at least one transmission across the first communication link to the at least one further network element (524) in response thereto.

Abstract: A communication network element comprises traffic scheduler logic capable of scheduling transmission of a first category of queued traffic across a backhaul interface in accordance with a rate control value. The communication network element further comprises traffic manager logic capable of scheduling transmission of a second category of queued traffic across the backhaul interface in accordance with a determined backhaul bandwidth allocation, the backhaul bandwidth allocation being based on a determination of available bandwidth across the backhaul interface not required for scheduled first category traffic.