Method for assigning frequency channels in a cellular communication system and for identifying critical existing fixed microwave receivers that restrict operation of such a system

Abstract

A method for assigning frequency channels to base stations in a cellular communication system that coexists with a set of existing fixed site microwave receivers groups the base stations into clusters and the potential frequency channels into channel blocks. Each cluster is then assigned a usage parameter indicative of how many base stations within the cluster may operate within a given channel block. A computer model is operated to predict whether aggregate interference from the base stations and the associated handsets at the existing fixed site receivers would be excessive. If so, the usage parameters are revised to reduce the number of base stations within the respective cluster that may operate within an interfering channel block. These steps are repeated until the aggregate interference from the base stations and associated handsets at the existing fixed site microwave receivers is no longer excessive. Frequency channels are then assigned to the base stations in accordance with the usage parameters as determined above. The computer model is also used to predict an exclusion zone for each of the existing fixed site microwave receivers, each exclusion zone identifying an area within which interference from at least one of the base stations and associated handsets is excessive.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.