Wireless communication methods and systems using multiple sectored cells

• US 6,748,218 B1
• Filed: 04/10/2000
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Axxcelera Broadband Wireless, Inc. (Moseley Wireless Solutions Group)
• Original Assignee: REMEC, Inc.
• Inventors: Harrison, Daniel, Johnson, Thomas J., Moritz, Christopher M.
• Primary Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US09/546,060
• Time in Patent Office: 1,520 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/434, 455/436, 455/443, 455/446, 455/447, 455/450, 455/439, 455/452, 455/13.3, 455/62, 455/63, 455/703, 455/561, 455/562, 455/449, 342/368, 342/457, 342/450
• US Class Current: 455/446
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/12 Fixed resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures

Abstract

Wireless communication methods and systems using multiple sectored cells. In one example, each cell of a cellular coverage area is divided into a number of sectors. A number of different half duplex or full duplex channels are used in each cell to communicate between a base station and a number of subscriber stations located in the cell. At least some of the channels may be reused in other cells of the coverage area. Additionally, some channels may be reused both amongst sectors of a given cell and in other cells of the coverage area. The sectored cells are arranged with respect to one other such that interference amongst similarly oriented sectors of different cells using one or more same channels is reduced. In another example, two adjacent cells are arranged with respect to each other such that sectors of the two cells that are similarly oriented approximately along a bore axis of the two cells, and in which radiation is transmitted in the two cells in essentially a same direction approximately along the bore axis, use different channels.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system, comprising:

at least three sectored cells, each cell being divided into 6N sectors, N being an integer, each cell being assigned at least three different channels such that adjacent sectors of the 6N sectors in each cell use different channels, the at least three sectored cells being arranged using at least three different cell configurations, each cell configuration of the at least three different cell configurations being uniquely identified by at least one of a particular azimuth orientation of the cell about a center of the cell and particular channel types of each different channel of the at least three different channels used in the cell, wherein;

the at least three sectored cells are mutually adjacent and define at least three bore axes, each bore axis of the at least three bore axes passing through a center of each of two cells of the at least three sectored cells; and

the at least three sectored cells are arranged with respect to each other such that sectors of the at least three sectored cells that are similarly oriented approximately along one bore axis of the at least three bore axes and in which radiation is transmitted in essentially a same direction approximately along the one bore axis use different channels.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the same at least three different channels are assigned to each cell; and

each cell configuration of the at least three different cell configurations is uniquely identified by the particular azimuth orientation of the cell about the center of the cell.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least three different channels include at least three different full duplex channels.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least three different channels include three channels having at least one of different carrier frequencies, different polarizations, different time slots, and different codes.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the at least three different channels include at least three different channel sets, each channel of the at least three different channels including a respective channel set; and

each respective channel set includes at least one of a plurality of frequency channels, a plurality of time slot channels, and a plurality of coded channels.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein each respective channel set is uniquely identified from other channel sets of the at least three different channel sets as having at least one of a different frequency band and a different polarization than the other channel sets.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each cell configuration of the at least three different cell configurations is uniquely identified by a particular azimuth orientation of the cell about the center of the cell.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least three sectored cells include at least seven cells, a first cell of the at least seven cells being adjacent with each of six other cells of the at least seven cells such that the six other cells surround the first cell.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the at least seven cells define a plurality of bore axes, each bore axis of the plurality of bore axes passing through a center of each of two cells of the at least seven cells; and

the at least seven cells are arranged with respect to each other such that sectors of adjacent cells of the at least seven cells that are similarly oriented approximately along one bore axis of the plurality of bore axes and in which radiation is transmitted in essentially a same direction approximately along the one bore axis use different channels.

10. A wireless communication system, comprising:

at least seven sectored cells, each sectored cell of the at least seven sectored cells being divided into a plurality of sectors and being assigned at least three different channels such that adjacent sectors in each sectored cell use different channels, each sectored cell of the at least seven sectored cells having a different one of at least seven different cell configurations, each cell configuration of the at least seven different cell configurations being uniquely identified by at least one of a particular azimuth orientation of the cell about the center of the cell and particular channel types of each different channel of the at least three of different channels used in the cell, wherein;

the at least seven sectored cells include a first cell adjacent with each of six other cells of the at least seven sectored cells such that the six other cells surround the first cell;

the at least seven sectored cells define a plurality of bore axes, each bore axis of the plurality of bore axes passing through a center of each of two cells of the at least seven sectored cells; and

the at least seven sectored cells are arranged with respect to each other such that sectors of adjacent cells of the at least seven sectored cells that are similarly oriented approximately along one bore axis of the plurality of bore axes and in which radiation is transmitted in essentially a same direction approximately along the one bore axis use different channels.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein:

each cell is divided into at least seven sectors; and

the at least three different channels include at least seven different channels.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the at least seven different channels include at least seven different channel sets, each channel of the at least seven different channels including a respective channel set; and

each respective channel set includes at least one of a plurality of frequency channels, a plurality of time slot channels, and a plurality of coded channels.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein each respective channel set is uniquely identified from other channel sets of the at least seven different channel sets as having at least one of a different frequency band and a different polarization than the other channel sets.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the same at least seven different channels are assigned to each cell; and

each cell configuration of the at least seven different cell configurations is uniquely identified by the particular azimuth orientation of the cell about the center of the cell.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein each cell is divided into 6N sectors, N being an integer.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least seven different channels include eight different channels.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein each cell is divided into 24 sectors.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the eight different channels are each reused three times in each cell.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the same eight different channels are assigned to each cell; and

each cell configuration of the at least seven different cell configurations is uniquely identified by the particular azimuth orientation of the cell about the center of the cell.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein each cell configuration of the at least seven different cell configurations has an azimuth orientation of the cell about the center of the cell of 15M degrees with respect to any other cell configuration, M being an integer.

21. The system of claim 10, wherein at least two different cell configurations of the at least seven different cell configurations each is uniquely identified by at least the particular azimuth orientation of the cell about the center of the cell.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least seven sectored cells include a first cell adjacent with each of six other cells of the at least seven sectored cells such that the six other cells surround the first cell, the first cell and the six other cells each using a different cell configuration of the at least seven different cell configurations to form a core sectored cell group.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the at least seven sectored cells include a plurality of sectored cells arranged as an extended formation of a plurality of core sectored cell groups.

24. The system of claim 10, wherein at least two different cell configurations of the at least seven different cell configurations each is uniquely identified by at least the particular channel types of the at least three different channels used in the cell.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the at least seven sectored cells include a first cell adjacent with each of six other cells of the at least seven sectored cells such that the six other cells surround the first cell, the first cell and the six other cells each using a different cell configuration of the at least seven different cell configurations to form a core sectored cell group.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the at least seven sectored cells include a plurality of sectored cells arranged as an extended formation of a plurality of core sectored cell groups.

27. The system of claim 10, wherein each cell configuration of the at least seven different cell configurations is uniquely identified by a particular azimuth orientation of the cell about the center of the cell.

28. A wireless communication system, comprising:

at least two base stations disposed in a coverage area that includes at least two adjacent cells, each cell including a respective plurality of subscriber stations and including at least one base station of the at least two base stations disposed approximately at a center of the cell to exchange information over air with the respective plurality of subscriber stations, at least one base station of the at least two base stations including at least one lens-based sectored antenna system, each cell having approximately a same radius and spanning a 360 degree azimuth angle around the at least one base station, the at least two adjacent cells defining at least one bore axis that passes through the center of each cell, the wireless communication system being constructed and arranged such that;

each cell is divided into at least three sectors;

the at least one base station in each cell exchanges information with the respective plurality of subscriber stations using at least three different channels, wherein adjacent sectors of the at least three sectors in each cell use different channels; and

the at least two adjacent cells are arranged with respect to each other such that sectors of

the at least two adjacent cells that are similarly oriented approximately along the at least one bore axis and in which radiation is transmitted by the at least two base stations in essentially a same direction approximately along the at least one bore axis use different channels;

wherein the at least two base stations include at least three base stations; and

the at least two adjacent cells include at least three cells, each cell of the at least three cells being adjacent with at least one other cell of the at least three cells,

wherein the at least three adjacent cells include at least three mutually adjacent cells,

wherein the at least three mutually adjacent cells define at least three bore axes, each bore axis of the at least three bore axes passing through the center of each of two cells of the at least three mutually adjacent cells; and

the at least three mutually adjacent cells are arranged with respect to each other such that sectors of the at least three mutually adjacent cells that are similarly oriented approximately along one bore axis of the at least three bore axes and in which radiation is transmitted by at least two of the at least three base stations in essentially a same direction approximately along the one bore axis use different channels.

29. A wireless communication system, comprising:

at least two base stations disposed in a coverage area that includes at least two adjacent cells, each cell including a respective plurality of subscriber stations and including at least one base station of the at least two base stations disposed approximately at a center of the cell to exchange information over air with the respective plurality of subscriber stations, at least one base station of the at least two base stations including at least one lens-based sectored antenna system, each cell having approximately a same radius and spanning a 360 degree azimuth angle around the at least one base station, the at least two adjacent cells defining at least one bore axis that passes through the center of each cell, the wireless communication system being constructed and arranged such that;

each cell is divided into at least three sectors;

the at least one base station in each cell exchanges information with the respective plurality of subscriber stations using at least three different channels, wherein adjacent sectors of the at least three sectors in each cell use different channels; and

the at least two adjacent cells are arranged with respect to each other such that sectors of the at least two adjacent cells that are similarly oriented approximately along the at least one bore axis and in which radiation is transmitted by the at least two base stations in essentially a same direction approximately along the at least one bore axis use different channels;

wherein;

the at least two base stations include at least seven base stations;

the at least two adjacent cells include at least seven cells, a first cell of the at least seven cells being adjacent with each of six other cells of the at least seven cells such that the six other cells surround the first cell, the at least seven cells defining a plurality of bore axes, each bore axis of the plurality of bore axes passing through the center of each of two cells of the at least seven cells; and

the at least seven cells are arranged with respect to each other such that sectors of adjacent cells of the at least seven cells that are similarly oriented approximately along one bore axis of the plurality of bore axes and in which radiation is transmitted by at least two of the at least seven base stations in essentially a same direction approximately along the one bore axis use different channels.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein each cell is divided into 3N sectors, N being an integer.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein each cell is divided into 6N sectors, N being an integer.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the at least seven cells are arranged using at least three different cell configurations, each cell configuration of the at least three different cell configurations being uniquely identified by at least one of a particular azimuth orientation of the cell about the center of the cell and particular channel types of each different channel of the at least three different channels used in the cell.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the at least three different channels include three channels having at least one of different carrier frequencies, different polarizations, different time slots, and different codes.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein:

each base station of the at least seven base stations uses the same at least three different channels; and

each cell configuration of the at least three different cell configurations is uniquely identified by a particular azimuth orientation of the cell about the center of the cell.

35. The system of claim 29, wherein the at least seven cells are arranged using at least seven different cell configurations, each cell configuration of the at least seven different cell configurations being uniquely identified by at least one of a particular azimuth orientation of the cell about the center of the cell and particular channel types of each different channel of the at least three different channels used in the cell.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least three different full channels include three channels having at least one of different carrier frequencies, different polarizations, different time slots, and different codes.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein:

each cell is divided into at least seven sectors; and

the at least three different channels include at least seven different channels.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein:

the at least seven different channels include at least seven different channel sets, each channel of the at least seven different channels including a respective channel set; and

each respective channel set includes at least one of a plurality of frequency channels, a plurality of time slot channels, and a plurality of coded channels.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein each respective channel set is uniquely identified from other channel sets of the at least seven different channel sets as having at least one of a different frequency band and a different polarization than the other channel sets.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein:

each base station of the at least seven base stations uses the same at least seven different channels; and

each cell configuration of the at least seven different cell configurations is uniquely identified by a particular azimuth orientation of the cell about the center of the cell.

41. The system of claim 37, wherein each cell is divided into 6N sectors, N being an integer.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the at least seven different channels include eight different channels.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein each cell is divided into 24 sectors.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the eight different channels are each reused three times in each cell.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein:

each base station of the at least seven base stations uses the same eight different channels; and

each cell configuration of the at least seven different cell configurations is uniquely identified by a particular azimuth orientation of the cell about the center of the cell.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein each cell configuration of the at least seven different cell configurations has an azimuth orientation of the cell about the center of the cell of 15M degrees with respect to any other cell configuration, M being an integer.

47. A wireless communication system, comprising:

at least seven base stations disposed in a coverage area that includes at least seven cells, each cell including a respective plurality of subscriber stations and including at least one base station of the at least seven base stations disposed approximately at a center of the cell to exchange information over air with the respective plurality of subscriber stations, each cell having approximately a same radius and spanning a 360 degree azimuth angle around the at least one base station, a first cell of the at least seven cells being adjacent with each of six other cells of the at least seven cells such that the six other cells surround the first cell, the at least seven cells defining a plurality of bore axes, each bore axis of the plurality of bore axes passing through the center of each of two cells of the at least seven cells, the wireless communication system being constructed and arranged such that;

each cell is divided into 6N sectors, N being an integer;

the at least one base station in each cell exchanges information with the respective plurality of subscriber stations using at least three different full duplex channels, wherein adjacent sectors of the 6N sectors in each cell use different full duplex channels; and

the at least seven cells are arranged with respect to each other such that sectors of adjacent cells of the at least seven cells that are similarly oriented approximately along one bore axis of the plurality of bore axes and in which radiation is transmitted by at least two of the at least seven base stations in essentially a same direction approximately along the one bore axis use different full duplex channels.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the at least seven cells are arranged using at least seven different cell configurations, each cell configuration of the at least seven different cell configurations being uniquely identified by at least one of a particular azimuth orientation of the cell about the center of the cell and particular channel types of each different full duplex channel of the at least three different full duplex channels used in the cell.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the at least three different full duplex channels include three full duplex channels having at least one of different carrier frequencies, different polarizations, different time slots, and different codes.

50. The system of claim 48, wherein:

each cell is divided into at least seven sectors; and

the at least three different full duplex channels include at least seven different full duplex channels.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein:

the at least seven different full duplex channels include at least seven different full duplex channel sets, each full duplex channel of the at least seven different full duplex channels including a respective full duplex channel set; and

each respective full duplex channel set includes at least one of a plurality of full duplex frequency channels, a plurality of full duplex time slot channels, and a plurality of full duplex coded channels.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein each respective full duplex channel set is uniquely identified from other full duplex channel sets of the at least seven different full duplex channel sets as having at least one of a different frequency band and a different polarization than the other full duplex channel sets.

53. The system of claim 48, wherein:

each base station of the at least seven base stations uses the same at least seven different full duplex channels; and

each cell configuration of the at least seven different cell configurations is uniquely identified by a particular azimuth orientation of the cell about the center of the cell.

54. The system of claim 48, wherein the at least seven different full duplex channels include eight different full duplex channels.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein each cell is divided into 24 sectors.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the eight different full duplex channels are each reused three times in each cell.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein:

each base station of the at least seven base stations uses the same eight different full duplex channels; and

each cell configuration of the at least seven different cell configurations is uniquely identified by a particular azimuth orientation of the cell about the center of the cell.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein each cell configuration of the at least seven different cell configurations has an azimuth orientation of the cell about the center of the cell of 15M degrees with respect to any other cell configuration, M being an integer.

59. A wireless communication system, comprising:

K different cell configurations, K being an integer not less than three, each cell configuration of the K different cell configurations including a cell having 6N sectors, N being an integer, each cell using a same set of C different channels to transport information, C being an integer equal to at least K, the K different cell configurations including K different azimuth orientations of the cells with respect to one another.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein each channel of the C different channels is reused R times in each cell, R being an integer.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein C×

R=6N.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein:

K is equal to 7;

C is equal to 8;

R is equal to 3; and

N is equal to 4.

63. A wireless communication method, comprising acts of:

dividing a coverage area into a plurality of cells;

dividing each cell of the plurality of cells into 6N sectors, N being an integer;

assigning a same set of C different channels to transport information in each cell of the plurality of cells, C being an integer; and

arranging the plurality of cells using K different cell configurations, K being an integer not less than three, C being equal to at least K, the K different cell configurations including K different azimuth orientations of the cells with respect to one another.

64. In a wireless communication system comprising at least seven sectored cells, each sectored cell of the at least seven sectored cells being divided into a plurality of sectors and being assigned a plurality of different channels such that adjacent sectors in each sectored cell use different channels, a wireless communication method comprising acts of:

using a different cell configuration for each sectored cell of the at least seven sectored cells, each different cell configuration of the at least seven different cell configurations being uniquely identified by at least one of a particular azimuth orientation of a cell about a center of the cell and particular channel types of the plurality of different channels used in the cell;

forming at least one core sectored cell group using the at least seven sectored cells, the core sectored cell group including a first cell adjacent with each of six other cells of the at least seven sectored cells such that the six other cells surround the first cell, wherein the at least seven sectored cells define a plurality of bore axes, each bore axis of the plurality of bore axes passing through a center of each of two cells of the at least seven cells; and

arranging the at least seven sectored cells with respect to each other such that sectors of adjacent cells of the at least seven cells that are similarly oriented approximately along one bore axis of the plurality of bore axes and in which radiation is transmitted in essentially a same direction approximately along the one bore axis use different channels.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the act of using a different cell configuration for each sectored cell of the at least seven sectored cells includes an act of using at least two different cell configurations of the at least seven different cell configurations that are uniquely identified by at least the particular azimuth orientation of the cell about the center of the cell.

66. The method of claim 65, further comprising an act of forming at least one core sectored cell group using the at least seven sectored cells, the core sectored cell group including a first cell adjacent with each of six other cells of the at least seven sectored cells such that the six other cells surround the first cell, the first cell and the six other cells each using a different cell configuration of the at least seven different cell configurations.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the at least one core sectored cell group includes a plurality of core sectored cell groups, and wherein the method further comprises an act of arranging the plurality of core sectored cell groups as an extended formation.

68. The method of claim 64, wherein the act of using a different cell configuration for each sectored cell of the at least seven sectored cells includes an act of using at least two different cell configurations of the at least seven different cell configurations that are uniquely identified by at least the particular channel types of the plurality of different channels used in the cell.

69. The method of claim 68, further comprising an act of forming at least one core sectored cell group using the at least seven sectored cells, the core sectored cell group including a first cell adjacent with each of six other cells of the at least seven sectored cells such that the six other cells surround the first cell, the first cell and the six other cells each using a different cell configuration of the at least seven different cell configurations.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the at least one core sectored cell group includes a plurality of core sectored cell groups, and wherein the method further comprises an act of arranging the plurality of core sectored cell groups as an extended formation.