Method and system for defining additional spread spectrum channels within a coverage area of an existing wireless network

• US 20070297490A1
• Filed: 05/03/2002
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Oh, Dae-Sik, Yarkosky, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,555,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/135
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/69 Spread spectrum techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7097 Interference-related aspects

Abstract

A method and system for defining additional spread spectrum channels within a coverage area already served by an existing wireless network. A first spread spectrum channel may be defined by a first range of frequencies. A second spread spectrum channel may be defined by a second range of frequencies. A portion of the first range of frequencies may overlap with a portion of the second range of frequencies. The overlap may be such that the first spread spectrum channel and the second spread spectrum channel may carry signals that minimally interfere with each other.

Claims

1. A method of providing wireless network service, the method comprising:

establishing a first spread spectrum channel defined by a first range of frequencies;

establishing a second spread spectrum channel defined by a second range of frequencies;

wherein the first range of frequencies overlaps with a portion of the second range of frequencies;

a first wireless terminal communicating a first signal over the first range of frequencies; and

a second wireless terminal communicating a second signal over the second range of frequencies.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the second range of frequencies that overlaps with the first range of frequencies is a greater of (i) approximately ½

the first range of frequencies or (ii) approximately ½

the second range of frequencies.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the second range of frequencies that overlaps with the first range of frequencies is defined by an offset between a first center frequency of the first spread spectrum channel and a second center frequency of the second spread spectrum channel, the offset being a greater of (i) approximately ½

the first range of frequencies or (ii) approximately ½

the second range of frequencies.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first signal comprises a first power level, the second signal comprises a second power level, and a difference between the first power level and second power level is between zero and approximately 5 dBm.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first range of frequencies is approximately 1.25 MHz, the second range is approximately 1.25 MHz, and portion of the second range of frequencies that overlaps with the first range of frequencies is approximately 0.625 MHz.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first spread spectrum channel and the second spread spectrum channel are CDMA channels.

7. (canceled)

8. In a wireless network wherein a spread spectrum channel is defined by a range of frequencies, a method comprising:

establishing a separate spread spectrum channel defined by a separate range of frequencies;

wherein the separate range of frequencies overlaps with a portion of the range of frequencies;

a first wireless terminal communicating a signal over the range of frequencies; and

a second wireless terminal communicating a separate signal over the separate range of frequencies.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the portion of the range of frequencies that overlaps with the separate range of frequencies is a greater of (i) approximately ½

the range of frequencies or (ii) approximately ½

the separate range of frequencies.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the portion of the range of frequencies that overlaps with the separate range of frequencies is defined by an offset between a center frequency of the spread spectrum channel and a separate center frequency of the separate spread spectrum channel, the offset being a greater of (i) approximately ½

the range of frequencies or (ii) approximately ½

the separate range of frequencies.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the separate signal comprises a separate power level, the signal comprises a power level, and a difference between the separate power level and power level is between zero and approximately 5 dBm.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the separate range of frequencies is approximately 1.25 MHz, the range is approximately 1.25 MHz, and portion of the range of frequencies that overlaps with the separate range of frequencies is approximately 0.625 MHz.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the separate spread spectrum channel and the spread spectrum channel are CDMA channels.

14. (canceled)

15. A method of providing wireless network service, the method comprising:

establishing a first plurality of spread spectrum channels wherein each of the first plurality of spread spectrum channels is defined by a first range of frequencies;

establishing a second plurality of spread spectrum channels wherein each of the second plurality of spread spectrum channels is defined by a second range of frequencies;

wherein the first range of frequencies of the first plurality of spread spectrum channels overlaps with a portion of the second range of frequencies of the second plurality of spread spectrum channels;

a first wireless terminal communicating a first signal over one of the first plurality of spread spectrum channels; and

a second wireless terminal communicating a second signal over one of the second plurality of second spread spectrum channels.

16. In a wireless network wherein a plurality of spread spectrum channels is each defined by a range of frequencies, a method comprising:

establishing a separate plurality of spread spectrum channels wherein each of the separate plurality of spread spectrum channels is defined by a separate range of frequencies;

wherein the separate range of frequencies of the separate plurality of spread spectrum channels overlaps with a portion of the range of frequencies of the plurality of spread spectrum channels;

a first wireless terminal communicating a signal over one of the plurality of spread spectrum channels; and

a second wireless terminal communicating a separate signal over one of the separate plurality of spread spectrum channels.

17. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

31. A system, comprising:

a first base station using a first spread spectrum channel defined by a first range of frequencies to communicate a first signal; and

a second base station using a second spread spectrum channel defined by a second range of frequencies to communicate a second signal, wherein the first range of frequencies overlaps with a portion of the second range of frequencies, and wherein the second base station serves an area served by the first base station.

18. The system of claim 31, wherein the portion of the second range of frequencies that overlaps with the first range of frequencies is a greater of (i) approximately ½

the first range of frequencies or (ii) approximately ½

the second range of frequencies.

19. The system of claim 31, wherein the portion of the second range of frequencies that overlaps with the first range of frequencies is defined by an offset between a first center frequency of the first spread spectrum channel and a second center frequency of the second spread spectrum channel, the offset being a greater of (i) approximately ½

the first range of frequencies or (ii) approximately ½

the second range of frequencies.

20. The system of claim 31, wherein the first signal comprises a first power level, the second signal comprises a second power level, and a difference between the first power level and second power level is between zero and approximately 5 dBm.

21. The system of claim 31, wherein the first range of frequencies is approximately 1.25 MHz, the second range of frequencies is approximately 1.25 MHz, and portion of the second range of frequencies that overlaps with the first range of frequencies is approximately 0.625 MHz.

22. The system of claim 31, wherein the first spread spectrum channel and the second spread spectrum channel are CDMA channels.

32. In an area served by a first base station, the first base station using a spread spectrum channel to communicate a signal, the spread spectrum channel being defined by a range of frequencies, a system comprising:

a second base station, the second base station using a separate spread spectrum channel to communicate a separate signal, the separate spread spectrum channel being defined by a separate range of frequencies, wherein the separate range of frequencies overlaps with a portion of the range of frequencies.

25. The system of claim 32, wherein the portion of the range of frequencies that overlaps with the separate range of frequencies is a greater of (i) approximately ½

the range of frequencies or (ii) approximately ½

the separate range of frequencies.

26. The system of claim 32, wherein the portion of the range of frequencies that overlaps with the separate range of frequencies is defined by an offset between a center frequency of the spread spectrum channel and a separate center frequency of the separate spread spectrum channel, the offset being a greater of (i) approximately ½

the range of frequencies or (ii) approximately ½

the separate range of frequencies.

27. The method of claim 32, wherein the separate signal comprises a separate power level, the signal comprises a power level, and a difference between the separate power level and power level is between zero and approximately 5 dBm.

28. The system of claim 32, wherein the separate range of frequencies is approximately 1.25 MHz, the range of frequencies is approximately 1.25 MHz, and the portion of the range of frequencies that overlaps with the separate range of frequencies is approximately 0.625 MHz.

29. The system of claim 32, wherein the separate spread spectrum channel and the spread spectrum channel are CDMA channels.