# US 10,321,329 B2 · Method for deploying a cellular communication network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,321,329 B2 - Document ID: US10321329B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/911,399 - Filed: 2018-03-05 - Published: 2018-09-13 - Granted: 2019-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-29 - Assignees: Swisscom AG - Applicants: Swisscom AG - Inventors: Thomas Zasowski; Marc Kuhn; Raphael Rolny - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10321329B2 ## CPC - H04W 16/18: Network planning tools - H04W 16/14: Spectrum sharing arrangements {between different networks} - H04W 16/24: Cell structures - H04W 16/28: using beam steering - H04W 24/04: Arrangements for maintaining operational condition - H04W 52/265: {taking into account the quality of service QoS} - H04W 84/042: {Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems} - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Methods and systems are provided for managing communication networks. In a communication network that includes a plurality of cells, one or more antennas in a first cell from the plurality of cells may be configured to support operations in a second cell from the plurality of cells. The configuring may include arranging or causing the arrangement of the one or more antennas of the first cell to be directed towards the second cell, and configuring the one or more antennas of the first cell to use at least one same channel resource as used by antennas of the second cell, for communicating of signals of the second cell. The same channel resource may include a common channel. In some instances, the second cell may be configured to communicate with at least one communication device located within the second cell without use of any antenna of the second cell. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for managing communication resources in a communication network that comprises a plurality of cells, the method comprising: configuring one or more antennas in a first cell from the plurality of cells to support operations in a second cell from the plurality of cells, wherein the configuring comprises: arranging or causing the arrangement of the one or more antennas of the first cell to be directed towards the second cell; and configuring the one or more antennas of the first cell to use at least one same channel resource as used by one or more antennas of the second cell, for communicating of signals of the second cell, wherein the at least one same channel resource comprises a common channel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising configuring at least one antenna of the second cell to communicate, in coordination or cooperation with the one or more antennas of the first cell. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising configuring the second cell to communicate with at least one communication device located within the second cell without use of any antenna of the second cell. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising configuring the one or more antennas of the first cell to point towards the center of the second cell. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the one or more antennas of the first cell comprises adjusting an angle or sector covered by at least one antenna or antenna array of the first cell to lie within the second cell. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising configuring the second cell to increase or optimize distribution of data rate in communicating with at least one communication device located within the second cell, while maintaining transmission power used prior to configuring the one or more antennas of the first cell to support operations in the second cell. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, comprising optimizing the distribution of the data rate based on minimizing data rate of communication over a plurality of the communication devices. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising configuring the second cell to increase failure tolerance within the second cell. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising configuring the second cell to reduce transmission power of the one or more antennas of the second cell while maintaining a quality of service. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising configuring the common channel for use in accordance with a time division multiplex, a frequency division multiplex, or a code division multiplex based communication scheme. ### Claim 11 A system comprising: one or more circuits for use in managing communication resources in a communication network that comprises a plurality of cells, wherein each cell comprises at least a base station and one or more antennas; wherein the one or more circuits are operable to configure one or more antennas in a first cell from the plurality of cells to support operations in a second cell from the plurality of cells, the configuring comprising: arranging or causing the arrangement of the one or more antennas of the first cell to be directed towards the second cell; and configuring the one or more antennas of the first cell to use at least one same channel resource as used by one or more antennas of the second cell, for communicating of signals of the second cell, wherein the at least one same channel resource comprises a common channel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more circuits are operable to configure at least one antenna of the second cell to communicate, in coordination or cooperation with the one or more antennas of the first cell. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more circuits are operable to configure the second cell to communicate with any communication device located within the second cell without use of any antenna of the second cell. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more antennas of the second cell comprise at least one omnidirectional antenna or omnidirectional antenna array. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more antennas of the first cell comprises a directional antenna or antenna array. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more circuits are operable to configure the one or more antennas of the first cell to point towards the center of the second cell. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more circuits are operable to configure one or more antennas of the second cell to increase the data rate or to optimize distribution of the data rate in communicating with at least one communication device located within the second cell, while maintaining transmission power used prior to configuring the one or more antennas of the first cell to support operations in the second cell. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more circuits are operable to optimize the distribution of the data rate based on minimizing data rate of communication over a plurality of the communication devices. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more circuits are operable to configure the second cell to increase failure tolerance within the second cell. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more circuits are operable to configure the second cell to reduce transmission power of the one or more antennas of the second cell while maintaining a quality of service. ### Claim 21 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, comprising configuring the common channel for use in accordance with a time division multiplex, a frequency division multiplex, or a code division multiplex based communication scheme.