Method of creating and utilizing diversity in multiple carrier communication system

A communications cell, comprising:

• a base station including:
• i. means for transmitting a different first carrier signal into each of a first set of sectors of said cell, each of the different first carrier signals having a first carrier frequency which is the same;
• and
• ii. means for transmitting a different second carrier signal into each of a second set of sectors of said cell, each of the different second carrier signals having a second carrier frequency which is different from the first carrier frequency, said first and second sets of sectors overlapping but having sector boundaries which are offset from one another.

A method of operating a wireless terminal in a cell which includes a basestation which transmits at least two carrier signals at different power levels, the said at least two different carrier signal including a first carrier signal having a first carrier frequency and a second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency, the method comprising:

• operating said wireless terminal to communicate with said base station using said first carrier signal over a period of time;
• during said period of time, checking a plurality of said transmitted carrier signals to determine channel interference associated with each of said carrier signals;
• and
• initiating an intercarrier handoff between carrier signals used by said base station, while said first carrier signal still provides a signal to noise ration of at least 0 dB and another one of said carrier signals is subject to lower channel interference.

A wireless terminal, comprising:

• receiver means for receiving carrier signals corresponding to at least two different available carrier frequencies transmitted by the same base station;
• carrier selection means for selecting which one of said different available carrier frequencies to use at any point in time for the receipt of information, said carrier frequency selecting means including:
• means for repeatedly checking, during an interval of time during which said wireless terminal has a reliable communications connection with said base station using a first one of the available carrier frequencies, which of the available carrier frequencies has better interference properties;
• and
• means for signaling the base station to initiate an intracell intercarrier handoff to change the carrier frequency used to communicate with the wireless terminal when on of the available carrier frequencies is determined to be better for communication of signals to said wireless terminal than the carrier frequency being used.