Method and apparatus for a high-capacity cellular network by improved sectorization and interleaved channel assignment

• US 20020019233A1
• Filed: 09/10/2001
• Published: 02/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Leung, Kin K., Wang, Li-Chun
• Granted Patent: US 6,580,912 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 28/16 Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service]

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a high-capacity cellular network by improved sectorization and interleaved channel assignment is presented. Data transmission over a cellular network is carried out by implementation of a sectorization scheme, called the Narrow-Beam Quad-sector Cell (NBQC) sectorization scheme, and the corresponding Interleaved Channel Assignments (ICA). The NBQC sectorization scheme calls for each cell of a cellular network to be divided into four sectors, with each sector covered by a 60 degree antenna. Use of the NBQC sectorization scheme allows for implementation of the corresponding ICA, in which assignment of transmission channels to each cell is based on a re-use factor of N=2. Accordingly, the interleaved channel assignments allow for the use of the transmission channels in cells which are adjacent in the cellular network.

Claims

1. A method for creating a high-capacity cellular network, the method comprising the steps of:

sectorizing at least one cell of the cellular network into a plurality of sectors; and

assigning in an interleaved fashion at least one channel to each one of the plurality of sectors of the at least one cell.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein each one of the plurality of sectors individually encompasses a separate 90°

arc.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein each one of the plurality of sectors is square-shaped.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

employing a 60°

directional antenna in each one of the plurality of sectors.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the step of assigning at least one channel to each one of the plurality of sectors, a different channel is assigned to each one of the plurality of sectors in the at least one cell.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein assigning in an interleaved fashion the at least one channel to each one of the plurality of sectors of the at least one cell results in a frequency reuse factor of N=2.

7. An apparatus for a high-capacity cellular network, comprising:

at least one 60°

directional antenna, positioned with respect to at least one other 60°

directional antenna to create a first four-sector cell; and

at least one frequency channel assigned to at least one sector of the first four-sector cell,

wherein the at least one frequency channel is assigned to the at least one sector in an interleaved fashion with respect to at least one other frequency channel assigned to at least one sector of a second four-sector cell.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each one of the sectors of the first and second four-sector cells are separated from another sector of their respective cell by 90°

.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each one of the sectors is square-shaped.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each one of the sectors radiates from a center point in their respective cell.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the assignments of the at least one frequency channel in the interleaved fashion between the first and second cell results in a frequency reuse factor of N=2.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the at least one sector of the at least one first cell encompasses a 90°

arc from a central point of the at least one first cell which no other sector in the at least one first cell encompasses.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the at least one sector is square-shaped.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

at least one 60°

directional antenna employed in the at least one sector.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a different frequency channel is assigned to each of the at least one sector of the at least one first cell.

17. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the assignment of the at least one frequency channel in the interleaved fashion results in a reuse factor of N=2.

12. An apparatus for a high-capacity cellular network, comprising:

at least one first cell sectorized into at least one sector; and

at least one frequency channel assigned to the at least one sector of the at least one first cell,

wherein when the at least one frequency channel is assigned to at least one sector of an at least one second cell, it is assigned in an interleaved fashion to the assignment in the at least one sector of the at least one first cell.