Methods and Apparatus for Channel Assignment

• US 20080132261A1
• Filed: 01/28/2008
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Woodbury Wireless LLC
• Original Assignee: Rotani, Inc.
• Inventors: Spenik, John, Woodbury, Brian, Lastinger, Roc
• Granted Patent: US 7,424,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/509
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2605 Array of radiating elements provided with a feedback control over the element weights, e.g. adaptive arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/382 for resource allocation, admission control or handover
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/022 Site diversity; Macro-diversity using two or more spaced independent antennas H04B7/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0491 using two or more sectors, i.e. sector diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0495 using overlapping sectors in the same base station to implement MIMO for antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/00 Network planning, e.g. coverage or traffic planning tools; Network deployment, e.g. resource partitioning or cells structures
• 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 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/06 using polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for high throughput wireless cells and networks are described. The wireless cells may be equipped with multiple radios. Antennas may be arranged into overlapping and non-overlapping patterns. Channels may be assigned to foster servicing clients, and inter-cell communication. Attenuation may be used to decrease interference. Networks may be formed using a variety of methods and apparatus.

Claims

1. A method for assigning channels to a plurality of wireless cells of a network, the method comprising:

identifying a master wireless cell of a network having opposing physical sectors and a plurality of wireless cells, wherein each wireless cells has a shape of coverage similar to a triangle;

assigning the master wireless cell a hop number of zero;

setting a current hop number to zero;

setting a next hop number to one;

identifying a wireless cells physically closest to each of the current hop number cells;

assigning an identified cell the next hop number;

incrementing the current hop number and the next hop number by one;

repeating the identifying step, the assigning step, and the incrementing step until all wireless cells of the network are assigned a hop number;

selecting a channel assignment pattern;

assigning the channel assignment pattern to the master wireless cell and to all wireless cells having an even hop number;

rotating the channel assignment pattern about 60-degrees in a direction selected from the group of clockwise and counter-clockwise;

assigning the rotated channel assignment pattern to all wireless cells having an odd hop number.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least two of the opposing physical sectors are assigned the same channel.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein none of the opposing physical sectors are assigned the same channel.

4. A method for facilitating the assignment of channels to network, the method comprising:

identifying a master wireless cell of a network having opposing physical sectors and a plurality of wireless cells, wherein each wireless cells has a shape of coverage similar to a square;

assigning the master wireless cell a hop number of zero;

setting a current hop number to zero;

setting a next hop number to one;

identifying a wireless cells physically closest to each of the current hop number cells;

assigning an identified cell the next hop number;

incrementing the current hop number and the next hop number by one;

repeating the identifying step, the assigning step, and the incrementing step until all wireless cells of the network are assigned a hop number;

forming a nine-cell channel pattern by assigning a channel assignment pattern to the master wireless cell, to each of the wireless cells assigned a hop number of one, and to each of the wireless cells that are substantially adjacent to two wireless cells assigned a hop number of one;

assigning the nine-cell channel pattern to the plurality of wireless cells such that the center cell of the nine-cell channel assignment pattern falls only on wireless cells assigned an even hop number.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein at least two of the opposing physical sectors are assigned the same channel.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein none of the opposing physical sectors are assigned the same channel.