Methods and apparatus for backhaul and access link scheduling in integrated access and backhaul networks and synchronized networks

A macro base station for wireless communication, comprising:

• a communication interface configured for wireless communication with a first pico base station and a second pico base station;
• a memory comprising executable code;
• and
• a processor operatively coupled to the communication interface and the memory,
• wherein the processor and the memory are configured to:
• schedule backhaul link traffic between the macro base station and the first pico base station utilizing a transmission resource;
• determine potential interference at the macro base station or the first pico base station, caused by opportunistically rescheduling the transmission resource for opportunistic access link traffic between the second pico base station and a user equipment (UE);
• and
• if the potential interference caused by the opportunistic access link traffic is less than a predetermined threshold, reschedule the transmission resource for the opportunistic access link traffic.

A macro base station for wireless communication, comprising:

• a communication interface configured for wireless communication with a first pico base station and a second pico base station;
• a memory comprising executable code;
• and
• a processor operatively coupled to the communication interface and the memory,
• wherein the processor and the memory are configured to:
• schedule access link traffic between the second pico base station and a user equipment (UE) utilizing a transmission resource;
• determine potential interference at the UE or the second pico base station, caused by opportunistically rescheduling the transmission resource for opportunistic backhaul link traffic between the macro base station and the first pico base station;
• and
• if the potential interference caused by the opportunistic backhaul link traffic is less than a predetermined threshold, reschedule the transmission resource for the opportunistic backhaul link traffic.