Patent ID: 6038455
Filing Date: 2000-03-14
Classification: H04B,H04W

Abstract:
A method of reusing reverse frequency channels in a cellular communication system having a plurality of cells arranged as a plurality of frequency reuse groups, each reuse group comprising a plurality of associated corresponding time-slotted cell subsets comprising a plurality of associated corresponding cells, each cell in an associated subset assigned an identical forward frequency channel which is unique to the subset within the reuse group corresponding to the subset, the method comprising:(a) periodically enabling a broadcast in each cell of a first subset to normally transmit data on its assigned forward frequency channel at least in part only during a time period in which no other cell in the first subset is so enabled; and(b) during periods when it would normally receive data on a reverse link, enabling a broadcast in each cell of a second subset to transmit data on a predetermined reverse frequency channel during the time period that each cell of the first subset is normally enabled to transmit on its assigned forward frequency channel such that the reverse frequency channel is used by different cells for forward data transmission to increase data bandwidth from base stations to subscriber units in a cellular communication system, wherein a channel access scheme is used to arbitrate access by different cells to the reverse frequency channel.