Systems and methods for managing communication of an access node and a relay node

A system for managing frequency bands at access nodes, the system comprising:

• a controller with a process, the controller configured to:
• monitor a utilization of a first frequency band that is used for communication between a relay node and wireless devices, wherein the relay node communicates with an access node to connect to a network;
• determine that the monitored utilization meets a utilization criteria;
• select at least one of a second frequency band and a third frequency band for the relay node based on the determination that the monitored utilization meets the utilization criteria, a capacity of the first frequency band, a capacity of the second frequency band, and a capacity of the third frequency band;
• and
• allocate the selected frequency band for communication between the relay node and wireless devices.

A method for managing frequency bands at access nodes, the method comprising:

• monitoring a utilization of a first frequency band that is used for communication between a relay node and wireless devices, wherein the relay node communicates with an access node to connect to a network;
• determining that the monitored utilization meets a utilization criteria;
• selecting at least one of a second frequency band and a third frequency band for the relay node based on the determination that the monitored utilization meets the utilization criteria;
• selecting at least one of the first frequency band, the second frequency band, and the third frequency band for the access node based on the monitored utilization meeting a utilization criteria, wherein a frequency band that is selected for the relay node is not selected for the access node;
• allocating at least one frequency band selected for the relay node for communication between the relay node and wireless devices;
• and
• allocating at least one frequency band selected for the access node for communication between the access node and wireless devices.