Frequency plan for a cellular network

Claim 2

In a sixty degree sector transmit sector receive cellular network with an N=3 frequency plan wherein available channel frequencies are divided into eighteen frequency groupings, a method of assigning frequencies comprising the steps of: forming a generally triangular first three-cell cluster; dividing each cell of the first three-cell cluster into six sectors; and for said each cell, assigning, in an order, one frequency grouping to each sector to provide a separation of three channel frequencies between each sector within said each cell and a separation of at least seven channel frequencies between adjacent cells.

Claim 3

A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of allowing cell growth within the cellular network by forming a second generally triangular three-cell cluster, dividing each cell of the second three-cell cluster into six sectors, and assigning one frequency grouping to each sector of said each cell of the second three-cell cluster in the order of said first three-cell cluster.

Claim 4

A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the frequency groupings are labeled 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A, 7A, 8A, 9A, 1B, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B, 8B, 9B.

Claim 5

A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the order of assigning one frequency grouping to each sector for a first cell in the second three-cell cluster is 1A, 4A, 7A, 1B, 4B, 7B.

Claim 6

A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the order of assigning one frequency grouping to each sector for a second cell in the second three-cell cluster is 2A, 5A, 8A, 2B, 5B, 8B.

Claim 7

A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the order of assigning one frequency grouping to each sector for a third cell in the second three-cell cluster is 3A, 6A, 9A, 3B, 6B, 9B.

Claim 8

A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein a sector of the first cell in the second three-cell cluster, assigned the frequency grouping 4A, abuts a sector of the second cell in the second three-cell cluster, assigned the frequency grouping 5B.

Claim 9

A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein a sector of the second cell in the second three-cell cluster, assigned the frequency grouping 2B, abuts a sector of the third cell in the second three-cell cluster, assigned the frequency grouping 3A.

Claim 10

A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein a sector of the third cell in the second three-cell cluster, assigned the frequency grouping 9B, abuts a sector of the first cell in the second three-cell cluster, assigned the frequency grouping 7A.

Claim 11

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frequency groupings are labeled 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A, 7A, 8A, 9A, 1B, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B, 8B, 9B.

Claim 12

A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the order of assigning one frequency grouping to each sector for a first cell in the first three-cell cluster is 1A, 4A, 7A, 1B, 4B, 7B.

Claim 13

A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the order of assigning one frequency grouping to each sector for a second cell in the first three-cell cluster is 2A, 5A, 8A, 2B, 5B, 8B.

Claim 14

A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the order of assigning one frequency grouping to each sector for a third cell in the first three-cell cluster is 3A, 6A, 9A, 3B, 6B, 9B.

Claim 15

A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein a sector of the first cell in the first three-cell cluster, assigned the frequency grouping 4A, abuts a sector of the second cell in the first three-cell cluster, assigned the frequency grouping 5B.

Claim 16

A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein a sector of the second cell in the first three-cell cluster, assigned the frequency grouping 2B, abuts a sector of the third cell in the first three-cell cluster, assigned the frequency grouping 3A.

Claim 17

A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein a sector of the third cell in the first three-cell cluster, assigned the frequency grouping 9B, abuts a sector of the first cell in the first three-cell cluster, assigned the frequency grouping 7A.

Claim 18

A base station for sixty degree sector transmit sector receive cellular network with an N=3 frequency plan wherein available channel frequencies are divided into eighteen frequency groupings, the base station comprising: a first plurality of transmitters for a first subset of the available channel frequencies; a first combiner for combining output from the first plurality of transmitters; a first duplexer for providing the combined output to a first transmitting/receiving antenna for transmission; a second plurality of transmitters for a second subset of the available channel frequencies; a second combiner for combining output from the second plurality of transmitters; a second duplexer for providing the combined output from the second combiner to a second transmitting/receiving antenna for transmission; a first receive multi-coupler connected to the first duplexer for receiving a signal from the first antenna; a second receive multi-coupler connected to the second duplexer for receiving a signal from the second antenna; a first receiver having a primary splitter connected between the first receive multi-coupler and a primary receiver and a secondary splitter connected between the second multi-coupler and a secondary receiver; and a second receiver having a primary splitter connected to the second receive multi-coupler and a secondary splitter connected to the first receive multi-coupler.

Claim 19

A base station for sixty degree sector transmit sector receive cellular network with an N=3 frequency plan wherein available channel frequencies are divided into eighteen frequency groupings, the base station comprising: a first plurality of transmitters for a first subset of the available channel frequencies; a first combiner for combining output from the first plurality of transmitters; a first duplexer for providing the combined output to a first transmitting/receiving antenna for transmission; a second plurality of transmitters for a second subset of the available channel frequencies; a second combiner for combining output from the second plurality of transmitters; a second duplexer for providing the combined output from the second combiner to a second transmitting/receiving antenna for transmission; a first receive multi-coupler connected to the first duplexer for receiving a signal from the first antenna; a second receive multi-coupler connected to the second duplexer for receiving a signal from the second antenna; a first receiver having a primary splitter connected between the first receive multi-coupler and a primary receiver and a secondary splitter connected between the second multi-coupler and a secondary receiver; and a second receiver having a primary splitter connected to the second receive multi-coupler and a secondary splitter connected to the first receive multi-coupler.

Claim 20

A base station as claimed in claim 17 wherein the first subset of the available channel frequencies includes every odd channel of a frequency grouping and the second subset of the available channel frequencies includes every even channel of the frequency grouping wherein channel separation is doubled compared with transmitting with a single antenna.