Systems and methods for frequency reuse in wireless networks

• US 7,751,822 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2005
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nextel Communications (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Nextel Communications (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Starzec, Matthew, Thakore, Udit, Hyslop, Douglas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alam; Fayyaz
• Application Number:
  US11/201,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20060205422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,790 Days
• Field of Search: 455446-451, 370328-330
• US Class Current: 455/447
• 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: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A frequency reuse scheme that provides high spectral efficiency and reduced interference in areas where cell sites overlap is provided. Three frequencies are allocated per cell site, with each sector employing two frequencies, one frequency being transmitted at a higher power and the second frequency being transmitted at a lower power. The higher power frequency in one sector differs from the higher power frequency employed in the other two sectors, and the lower power frequency used in one sector differs from the lower power frequency used in the other two sectors.

Claims

1. A method for frequency allocation in a wireless network, comprising the acts of:

allocating a first frequency at a first power level and a second frequency at a second power level in a first sector of each of a plurality of cell sites in the network;

allocating a third frequency at the first power level and the first frequency at the second power level in a second sector of each of the plurality of cell sites in the network; and

allocating the second frequency at the first power level and the third frequency at the second power level in a third sector of each of the plurality of cell sites in the network, wherein each sector is allocated at most two frequencies and wherein the first, second and third sectors of each of the plurality of cell sites in the network are arranged such that portions of each of the plurality of cell sites overlapping portions of other cell sites of the plurality of cell sites include different frequencies.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first power level is higher than the second power level.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless network employs orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) over an air interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless network employs code division multiple access (CDMA) over an air interface.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of cell sites includes six sectors.

5. A method for frequency allocation in a wireless network, comprising the acts of:

allocating a first frequency at a first power level and a second frequency at a second power level in a first sector of each of a plurality of cell sites in the network;

allocating a third frequency at the first power level and the first frequency at the second power level in a second sector of each of the plurality of cell sites in the network; and

allocating the second frequency at the first power level and the third frequency at the second power level in a third sector of each of the plurality of cell sites in the network, wherein each sector communicates using only the first and second power levels and wherein the first, second and third sectors of each of the plurality of cell sites in the network are arranged such that portions of each of the plurality of cell sites overlapping portions of other cell sites of the plurality of cell sites include different frequencies.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first power level is higher than the second power level.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the wireless network employs orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) over an air interface.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the wireless network employs code division multiple access (CDMA) over an air interface.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of cell sites includes six sectors.

9. A method for frequency allocation in a wireless network, comprising the acts of:

allocating a first pair of frequencies to a first sector of each of a plurality of cell sites in the network;

allocating a second pair of frequencies to a second sector of each of the plurality of cell sites in the network;

allocating a third pair of frequencies to a third sector of each of the plurality of cell sites in the network,

wherein each pair of frequencies are allocated at first and second power levels and at least one frequency of the pair of frequencies allocated to the first and second sectors is not allocated to the third sector and wherein the first, second and third sectors of each of the plurality of cell sites in the network are arranged such that portions of each of the plurality of cell sites overlapping portions of other cell sites of the plurality of cell sites include different frequencies.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first power level is higher than the second power level.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the wireless network employs orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) over an air interface.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the wireless network employs code division multiple access (CDMA) over an air interface.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of cell sites includes six sectors.