Methods and techniques in channel assignment in a cellular network

• US 6,871,073 B1
• Filed: 12/15/1999
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Boyer, Pete A., Freeman, David F., Vicharelli, Pablo A., Rossoni, Philip G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Sinh
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DAVID Q
• Application Number:
  US09/464,301
• Time in Patent Office: 1,924 Days
• Field of Search: 455/450, 455/452, 455/446, 455/447, 455/448, 455/449, 455/453, 455/456, 455/464
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/10 Dynamic resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/12 Fixed resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• 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 cellular network configuration tool is described that performs frequency assignments for use in a cellular network. The channels are assigned in accordance with input configuration data such as a channel separation matrix, geographic data, and requested channel assignments for each sector included in the cellular network being configured. The configuration is performed in accordance with predetermined constraints and criteria and quality of service input. The tool uses frequency assignment techniques to perform the channel assignments in accordance with varying constraints and criteria.

Claims

1. A method executed in a computer system for associating frequencies with sectors in a cellular network, the method including:

receiving requests for associating said frequencies with each of said sectors in said cellular network;

providing two or more sector selection criteria and two or more frequency selection criteria;

choosing one of said two or more sector selection criteria and one of said two or more frequency selection criteria;

based on said chosen sector selection criteria and said chosen frequency selection criteria, associating said frequencies with said sectors to fulfill said requests;

determining whether all requests can be fulfilled based on said chosen sector selection criteria and said chosen frequency selection criteria; and

based on all requests not being fulfilled, performing at least one of;

modifying at least one of;

said chosen sector selection criteria and said chosen frequency selection criteria, and

choosing at least one of;

a different one of said two or more sector selection criteria and a different one of said two or more frequency selection criteria.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying at least one of:

said chosen sector selection criteria and said chosen frequency selection criteria includes adjusting a value in at least one of;

said chosen selection criteria and said chosen frequency selection criteria based on a previous frequency and sector association.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said sector selection criteria includes a bias representing an accumulated quantity modified based on previous frequency and sector associations.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said sector selection criteria includes frequency separation constraints.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said sector selection criteria includes carrier to interference frequency values, said carrier to interference frequency values representing a carrier frequency of a first sector having one or more interfering frequencies associated with other sectors when said carrier and said interfering frequency are the same frequency.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said frequency selection criteria includes carrier to interference frequency values, said carrier to interference frequency values representing a carrier frequency of a first sector having one or more interfering frequencies associated with other sectors when said carrier and said interfering frequency are the same frequency.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said frequency selection criteria includes frequency separation constraints.

8. A method executed in a computer system for determining channel assignments for a cellular network, the method including:

determining requested channel assignments, said requested channel assignments including a number of requested channels being associated with each sector in said cellular network;

selecting a sector included in said cellular network in accordance with sector selection criteria;

selecting a channel in accordance with frequency selection criteria;

determining if any additional requested channel assignments may be filled in accordance with predetermined criteria; and

adjusting a value included in one of said sector selection criteria and said frequency selection criteria if all of said requested channel assignments have not been filled;

wherein said frequency selection criteria includes;

using carrier to interference values, said carrier to interference values representing a carrier frequency of a first sector having one or more interfering frequencies associated with other sectors when said carrier and said interfering frequency are the same frequency;

frequency separation criteria; and

a bias representing an accumulated quantity modified in accordance with assignment results from prior iterations.

9. A method executed in a computer system for determining channel assignments for a cellular network, the method including:

determining requested channel assignments, said requested channel assignments including a number of requested channels being associated with each sector in said cellular network;

selecting a sector included in said cellular network in accordance with sector selection criteria;

selecting a channel in accordance with frequency selection criteria;

determining if any additional requested channel assignments may be filled in accordance with predetermined criteria; and

adjusting a value included in one of said sector selection criteria and said frequency selection criteria if all of said requested channel assignments have not been filled;

wherein said adjusting a value included in one of said sector selection criteria and said frequency selection criteria includes adjusting a bias representing an accumulated quantity modified in accordance with assignment results from prior iterations.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a first bias is adjusted in accordance with said sector selection criteria and a second bias is adjusted in accordance with said frequency selection criteria.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said first and second biases are the same representing a global bias.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said first and second biases are different.

13. A computer program product for associating frequencies with sectors in a cellular network, the computer program product including:

means for receiving requests for associating said frequencies with each of said sectors in said cellular network;

means for choosing one of two or more sector selection criteria and one of two or more frequency selection criteria;

based on said chosen sector selection criteria and said chosen frequency selection criteria, means for associating said frequencies with said sectors to fulfill said requests;

means for determining whether all requests can be fulfilled based on said chosen sector selection criteria and said chosen frequency selection criteria; and

means for performing, based on all requests not being fulfilled, at least one of;

modifying at least one of;

said chosen sector selection criteria and said chosen frequency selection criteria, and

choosing at least one of;

a different one of said two or more sector selection criteria and a different one of said two or more frequency selection criteria.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said means for modifying at least one of:

said chosen sector selection criteria and said chosen frequency selection criteria includes means for adjusting a value in at least one of;

said chosen sector selection criteria and said frequency selection criteria based on a previous frequency and sector association.

15. A computer program product for determining channel assignments for a cellular network, the computer program product including:

means for determining requested channel assignments, said requested channel assignments including a number of requested channels being associated with each sector in said cellular network;

means for selecting a sector included in said cellular network in accordance with sector selection criteria;

means for selecting a channel in accordance with frequency selection criteria;

means for determining if any additional requested channel assignments may be filled in accordance with predetermined criteria; and

means for adjusting a value included in one of said sector selection criteria and said frequency selection criteria if all of said requested channel assignments have not been filled;

wherein said sector selection criteria includes a bias representing an accumulated quantity in accordance with assignment results from prior iterations.