A base station serves multiple user terminals via a relay node in a cell of a wireless network. The base station includes a time division scheme selection unit that selects a time division scheme from multiple time division schemes that optimizes a parameter associated with network coding of data transmitted between the multiple user terminals and the base station via the relay node. The base station further includes a transmission allocation unit that allocates uplink and/or downlink transmission intervals and interval lengths, based on the selected time division scheme, to each of the multiple user terminals and to the relay node. The base station also includes a notification message unit that notifies the multiple user terminals and the relay node of their respective transmission interval and interval length allocation.