Method and Apparatus for Dimensioning Base Stations and Determining Spectrum Availability in a Spectrum Controlled Network

A method of dimensioning a plurality of Base Station/Access Points (BS/APs) and strategically placing them within an enterprise location to define at least part of an enterprise wireless network, each of said BS/APs having a maximum Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) and a minimum EIRP, comprising the steps of:

• determining a minimum number (M) of BS/APs needed to provide wireless radio coverage over substantially the entire enterprise location at the maximum EIRP for said BS/APs, said minimum number defining M primary BS/APs;
• optimizing placement locations for said primary BS/APs within said enterprise location, so that substantially the entire enterprise location is wirelessly covered by said primary BS/APs;
• placing said primary BS/APs at said determined locations;
• determining a maximum number (N) of BS/APs required to provide wireless radio coverage substantially over said entire enterprise location at the minimum EIRP for the N BS/APs, and defining a remainder (R) of supplemental BS/APs as the difference between said maximum number (N) and the M primary BS/APs;
• responsive to the placement of said primary BS/APs are at said determined locations, determining additional locations to place said supplemental BS/APs to provide additional coverage;
• and
• placing said supplemental BS/APs at said additional locations.

A wireless communication network, comprising:

• a plurality of N Base Station/Access Points (BS/APs) installed within an area, each of said BS/APs having a maximum Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) and a minimum EIRP, said plurality of N BS/APs including a maximum number (N) required to provide wireless radio coverage substantially over said entire area at the minimum EIRP of said BS/APs, said BS/APs including a primary group of BS/APs and a supplemental group of BS/APs;
• said primary group including a minimum number (M) of said N BS/APs needed to provide wireless radio coverage over substantially the entire area at the maximum EIRP for said BS/APs, said minimum number defining M primary BS/APs;
• said primary group of BS/APs positioned within said area so that substantially the entire area is wirelessly covered by said primary group;
• said supplemental group including the remaining R BS/APs of said plurality of N BS/APs, said remainder R defined as the difference between the N BS/APs and the M primary BS/APs, said supplemental BS/APs positioned responsive to the known placement of said primary BS/APs to provide additional coverage within the area.