Method for assigning channel reuse levels in a multi-level cellular system

Claim 2

The method of claim 1 wherein assigning the subscriber unit (115) to a reuse level further comprises assigning a serving station (120) the appropriate reuse level for the subscriber unit (115) in response to the reuse level gradient.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein determining the reuse level gradient related to relative interference occurs through the subscriber unit (115).

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein determining the reuse level gradient related to relative interference occurs through a base site (120) for transmitting the reuse channels.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein determining the reuse level gradient related to relative interference comprises determining relative using power transmission levels of a source that generates the reuse channels.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 wherein the reuse channels associated with any reuse level are dynamically allocated to other reuse levels to accommodate varying demands in traffic while maintaining an overall structured reuse channel plan.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 wherein determining the reuse level gradient related to relative interference further comprises: (a) summing measured signal strengths from multiple reuse channels (100), (130), (135) corresponding to one of the pluralities of reuse levels resulting in at least a first signal strength combination; and (b) determining a ratio of the signal strength of the subscriber unit (115) to the at least first signal strength combination.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 wherein assigning the reuse level to the subscriber unit (115) in response to the reuse level gradient comprises choosing a channel reuse level corresponding to a different frequency reuse pattern when the reuse level gradient substantially corresponds to predetermined criteria.

Claim 9

In a communication system employing multiple channel reuse levels, providing a method for assigning a channel reuse level having the steps of measuring a received signal strength of at least one subscriber unit (325) by a serving station (320), measuring a received signal strength of the at least one subscriber unit (325) by proximal base sites employing reuse channels from a first channel reuse level and proximal base sites employing reuse channels from a second channel reuse level, and measuring a received signal strength from the proximal base sites employing reuse channels from the first channel reuse level and the proximal base sites employing reuse channels from the second channel reuse level by the at least one subscriber unit (325), the improvement characterized by: (a) communicating these signal strength measurements to a computing unit (300); (b) determining, using the computing unit (300), a first relative carrier to interference value from the received signal strengths measured by the serving station (320), the proximal base sites employing reuse channels from the first channel reuse level and the subscriber unit (325) of the proximal base sites employing reuse channels from the first channel reuse level; (c) determining, using the computing unit (300), a second relative carrier to interference value from the received signal strengths measured by the serving station (320), the proximal base sites employing reuse channels from the second channel reuse level and the subscriber unit (325) of the proximal base sites employing reuse channels from the second channel reuse level; (d) generating, using the computing unit (300), a reuse level gradient derived from the first and the second relative carrier to interference values; and (e) assigning the subscriber unit (325) to a channel reuse level based upon the reuse level gradient.

Claim 10

In a radio frequency communication system employing channelization and having a plurality of reuse channel levels, each level having at least one associated reuse channel, providing a computing unit (300), the improvement characterized by: (a) the computing unit (300) comprising a microcomputer (305) for determining a reuse level gradient related to relative interference for a reuse channel of a first reuse level and at least one other relative interference for a reuse channel of at least a second reuse level; and (b) the computing unit (300) further comprising a control unit (310) for assigning the subscriber unit (325) to a reuse level in response to the determined reuse level gradient.