Wireless communications cellular architecture for improving communications resource allocation

• US 20010046866A1
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Published: 11/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, Li-Chun
• Granted Patent: US 6,915,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/447
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/02 Resource partitioning among network components, e.g. reuse partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/12 Fixed resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/30 Special cell shapes, e.g. doughnuts or ring cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus for communications resource allocation in a wireless communications system having a total system bandwidth. A service area is divided into a plurality sectors. A first set of base station antennas are positioned within a first set of sectors. The first set of antennas have main beams set at a first set of angles, and each antenna corresponds to a sector within the first set of sectors. A second set of base station antennas are positioned within a second set of sectors adjacent to the first set of sectors. The second set of antennas have main beams set at a second set of angles, and each antenna corresponds to a sector within the second set of sectors. Each sector is assigned a portion of the total system bandwidth.

Claims

1. A method for communications resource allocation for a wireless communications system having a total system bandwidth, comprising the steps of:

dividing a service area into a plurality of sectors;

positioning a first set of base station antennas within a first set of sectors, said first set of antennas having main beams set at a first set of angles, and where each antenna of said first set of antennas corresponds to a sector within said first set of sectors;

positioning a second set of base station antennas within a second set of sectors adjacent to said first set of sectors, said second set of antennas having main beams set at a second set of angles, and where each antenna of said second set of antennas corresponds to a sector within said second set of sectors; and

assigning each sector in said first and second set of sectors a portion of the total system bandwidth.

2. The method of

claim 1

, wherein said first set of angles are 30 degrees, 150 degrees and 270 degrees, and said second set of angles are 90 degrees, 210 degrees and 330 degrees.

3. The method of

claim 2

, wherein beamwidths for said first and second set of antennas are within a range of 50 degrees to 70 degrees.

4. The method of

claim 1

, wherein said each angle of said second set of angles is 60 degrees apart from each angle of said first set of angles.

5. The method of

claim 1

, wherein said first and second set of sectors each have three sectors, with each sector having a base station antenna.

6. The method of

claim 1

, wherein said system has a frequency reuse factor of K=2.

7. An apparatus for a wireless communications system having a service area divided into a plurality of sectors, comprising:

a first set of base station antennas within a first set of sectors, said first set of antennas having main beams set at a first set of angles, and where each antenna of said first set of antennas corresponds to a sector within said first set of sectors; and

a second set of base station antennas within a second set of sectors adjacent to said first set of sectors, said second set of antennas having main beams set at a second set of angles, and where each antenna of said second set of antennas corresponds to a sector within said second set of sectors.

8. The apparatus of

claim 7

, wherein said first set of angles are 30 degrees, 150 degrees and 270 degrees, and said second set of angles are 90 degrees, 210 degrees and 330 degrees.

9. The apparatus of

claim 8

, wherein beamwidths for said first and second set of antennas are within a range of 50 degrees to 70 degrees.

10. The apparatus of

claim 7

, wherein said each angle of said second set of angles is 60 degrees apart from each angle of said first set of angles.

11. The apparatus of

claim 7

, wherein said first and second cell each have three sectors, with each sector having a base station antenna.

12. The apparatus of

claim 7

, wherein said system has a frequency reuse factor of K=2.

13. A method for communicating signals over a wireless communications system having a service area divided into a plurality of sectors, comprising the steps of:

communicating signals over a first set of base station antennas within a first set of sectors, said first set of antennas having main beams set at a first set of angles, and where each antenna of said first set of antennas corresponds to a sector within said first set of sectors; and

communicating signals over a second set of base station antennas within a second set of sectors adjacent to said first set of sectors, said second set of antennas having main beams set at a second set of angles, and where each antenna of said second set of antennas corresponds to a sector within said second set of sectors.

14. An apparatus for communications resource allocation for a wireless communications system having a service area divided into a plurality of sectors, and also having a total system bandwidth, comprising:

a first set of base station antennas within a first set of sectors, said first set of antennas having main beams set at a first set of angles, and where each antenna of said first set of antennas corresponds to a sector within said first set of sectors;

a second set of base station antennas within a second set of sectors adjacent to said first set of sectors, said second set of antennas having main beams set at a second set of angles, and where each antenna of said second set of antennas corresponds to a sector within said second set of sectors; and

means for assigning each sector in said first and second set of sectors a portion of the total system bandwidth.

15. An apparatus for a wireless communications system having a service area divided into a plurality of sectors, comprising:

a switching network to provide switching for a plurality of base stations;

a first set of base stations operably coupled to said switching network for receiving signals over said network, said first set of base stations having antennas within a first set of sectors, said antennas having main beams set at a first set of angles, and where each antenna corresponds to a sector within said first set of sectors;

a second set of base stations operably coupled to said switching network for receiving signals over said network, said second set of base stations having antennas within a second set of sectors adjacent to said first set of sectors, said antennas having main beams set at a second set of angles, and where each antenna corresponds to a sector within said second set of sectors; and

transceivers operably coupled to said antennas for communicating said signals over said main beams for said antennas.