Patent ID: 8014362

Claim:
A method for assigning scrambling codes in a code division multiple access cellular radio communications network comprising a plurality of network cells covering a geographic area, comprising: determining, for each given cell of said plurality of network cells, a respective set of adjacent cells, comprising: taking a first set of cells that are neighbors of the given cell, taking a second set of cells that are neighbors of neighbors of the given cell, taking a third set of cells that are neighbors of neighbors of neighbors of the given cell, taking a fourth set of cells which, in at least one point of the geographic area, together with the given cell, produce respective signal powers higher than a predetermined threshold; combining the first, second, third, and fourth set of cells, and wherein two cells are considered neighbors in case the respective coverage areas at least partially overlap; and assigning to each cell of the set of adjacent cells a scrambling code different from a scrambling code assigned to the given cell, wherein said taking a fourth set of cells comprises: calculating a mutual difference in respective signal powers of the given cell and a cell of the fourth set of cells, calculating a weight factor from the calculated mutual difference, and calculating a cumulative weight factor by adding the weight factor for all the points of the geographic area in which the cell of the fourth set of cells and the given cell produce respective signal powers higher than the predetermined threshold.