Patent attributes
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate providing opportunistic relay node communication based on scheduling of other communications in a wireless network. In particular, a relay node can maintain a backhaul link with an access point and an access link with a mobile device to facilitate communicating information therebetween. Time slots during which the backhaul link is active can be determined and avoided during scheduling access link communications with the mobile device. Furthermore, resource assignments from the access point to the mobile device can be monitored and decoded such that time slots associated therewith can also be determined and avoided. Thus, the relay node can communicate with mobile devices in time slots where the backhaul link is inactive and/or the mobile devices are not occupied communicating directly with the access point.