Wireless communication methods and systems using multiple sectored cells

A wireless communication system, comprising:

• at least seven sectored cells, each sectored cell of the at least seven sectored cells being divided into a plurality of sectors and being assigned at least three different channels such that adjacent sectors in each sectored cell use different channels, each sectored cell of the at least seven sectored cells having a different one of at least seven different cell configurations, each cell configuration of the at least seven different cell configurations being uniquely identified by at least one of a particular azimuth orientation of the cell about the center of the cell and particular channel types of each different channel of the at least three of different channels used in the cell, wherein:
• the at least seven sectored cells include a first cell adjacent with each of six other cells of the at least seven sectored cells such that the six other cells surround the first cell;
• the at least seven sectored cells define a plurality of bore axes, each bore axis of the plurality of bore axes passing through a center of each of two cells of the at least seven sectored cells;
• and
• the at least seven sectored cells are arranged with respect to each other such that sectors of adjacent cells of the at least seven sectored cells that are similarly oriented approximately along one bore axis of the plurality of bore axes and in which radiation is transmitted in essentially a same direction approximately along the one bore axis use different channels.

A wireless communication system, comprising:

• at least two base stations disposed in a coverage area that includes at least two adjacent cells, each cell including a respective plurality of subscriber stations and including at least one base station of the at least two base stations disposed approximately at a center of the cell to exchange information over air with the respective plurality of subscriber stations, at least one base station of the at least two base stations including at least one lens-based sectored antenna system, each cell having approximately a same radius and spanning a 360 degree azimuth angle around the at least one base station, the at least two adjacent cells defining at least one bore axis that passes through the center of each cell, the wireless communication system being constructed and arranged such that:
• each cell is divided into at least three sectors;
• the at least one base station in each cell exchanges information with the respective plurality of subscriber stations using at least three different channels, wherein adjacent sectors of the at least three sectors in each cell use different channels;
• and
• the at least two adjacent cells are arranged with respect to each other such that sectors of
• the at least two adjacent cells that are similarly oriented approximately along the at least one bore axis and in which radiation is transmitted by the at least two base stations in essentially a same direction approximately along the at least one bore axis use different channels;
• wherein the at least two base stations include at least three base stations;
• and the at least two adjacent cells include at least three cells, each cell of the at least three cells being adjacent with at least one other cell of the at least three cells,
• wherein the at least three adjacent cells include at least three mutually adjacent cells,
• wherein the at least three mutually adjacent cells define at least three bore axes, each bore axis of the at least three bore axes passing through the center of each of two cells of the at least three mutually adjacent cells;
• and
• the at least three mutually adjacent cells are arranged with respect to each other such that sectors of the at least three mutually adjacent cells that are similarly oriented approximately along one bore axis of the at least three bore axes and in which radiation is transmitted by at least two of the at least three base stations in essentially a same direction approximately along the one bore axis use different channels.

A wireless communication system, comprising:

• at least two base stations disposed in a coverage area that includes at least two adjacent cells, each cell including a respective plurality of subscriber stations and including at least one base station of the at least two base stations disposed approximately at a center of the cell to exchange information over air with the respective plurality of subscriber stations, at least one base station of the at least two base stations including at least one lens-based sectored antenna system, each cell having approximately a same radius and spanning a 360 degree azimuth angle around the at least one base station, the at least two adjacent cells defining at least one bore axis that passes through the center of each cell, the wireless communication system being constructed and arranged such that:
• each cell is divided into at least three sectors;
• the at least one base station in each cell exchanges information with the respective plurality of subscriber stations using at least three different channels, wherein adjacent sectors of the at least three sectors in each cell use different channels;
• and
• the at least two adjacent cells are arranged with respect to each other such that sectors of the at least two adjacent cells that are similarly oriented approximately along the at least one bore axis and in which radiation is transmitted by the at least two base stations in essentially a same direction approximately along the at least one bore axis use different channels;
• wherein:
• the at least two base stations include at least seven base stations;
• the at least two adjacent cells include at least seven cells, a first cell of the at least seven cells being adjacent with each of six other cells of the at least seven cells such that the six other cells surround the first cell, the at least seven cells defining a plurality of bore axes, each bore axis of the plurality of bore axes passing through the center of each of two cells of the at least seven cells;
• and
• the at least seven cells are arranged with respect to each other such that sectors of adjacent cells of the at least seven cells that are similarly oriented approximately along one bore axis of the plurality of bore axes and in which radiation is transmitted by at least two of the at least seven base stations in essentially a same direction approximately along the one bore axis use different channels.

A wireless communication system, comprising:

• at least seven base stations disposed in a coverage area that includes at least seven cells, each cell including a respective plurality of subscriber stations and including at least one base station of the at least seven base stations disposed approximately at a center of the cell to exchange information over air with the respective plurality of subscriber stations, each cell having approximately a same radius and spanning a 360 degree azimuth angle around the at least one base station, a first cell of the at least seven cells being adjacent with each of six other cells of the at least seven cells such that the six other cells surround the first cell, the at least seven cells defining a plurality of bore axes, each bore axis of the plurality of bore axes passing through the center of each of two cells of the at least seven cells, the wireless communication system being constructed and arranged such that:
• each cell is divided into 6N sectors, N being an integer;
• the at least one base station in each cell exchanges information with the respective plurality of subscriber stations using at least three different full duplex channels, wherein adjacent sectors of the 6N sectors in each cell use different full duplex channels;
• and
• the at least seven cells are arranged with respect to each other such that sectors of adjacent cells of the at least seven cells that are similarly oriented approximately along one bore axis of the plurality of bore axes and in which radiation is transmitted by at least two of the at least seven base stations in essentially a same direction approximately along the one bore axis use different full duplex channels.

A wireless communication method, comprising acts of:

• dividing a coverage area into a plurality of cells;
• dividing each cell of the plurality of cells into 6N sectors, N being an integer;
• assigning a same set of C different channels to transport information in each cell of the plurality of cells, C being an integer;
• and
• arranging the plurality of cells using K different cell configurations, K being an integer not less than three, C being equal to at least K, the K different cell configurations including K different azimuth orientations of the cells with respect to one another.

In a wireless communication system comprising at least seven sectored cells, each sectored cell of the at least seven sectored cells being divided into a plurality of sectors and being assigned a plurality of different channels such that adjacent sectors in each sectored cell use different channels, a wireless communication method comprising acts of:

• using a different cell configuration for each sectored cell of the at least seven sectored cells, each different cell configuration of the at least seven different cell configurations being uniquely identified by at least one of a particular azimuth orientation of a cell about a center of the cell and particular channel types of the plurality of different channels used in the cell;
• forming at least one core sectored cell group using the at least seven sectored cells, the core sectored cell group including a first cell adjacent with each of six other cells of the at least seven sectored cells such that the six other cells surround the first cell, wherein the at least seven sectored cells define a plurality of bore axes, each bore axis of the plurality of bore axes passing through a center of each of two cells of the at least seven cells;
• and
• arranging the at least seven sectored cells with respect to each other such that sectors of adjacent cells of the at least seven cells that are similarly oriented approximately along one bore axis of the plurality of bore axes and in which radiation is transmitted in essentially a same direction approximately along the one bore axis use different channels.