Patent ID: 7136654

Claim:
A method for managing channel assignment in a wireless communication system having a plurality of cells, each cell having a predetermined frequency band for use in establishing communication connections, said method comprising the steps of: dividing the predetermined frequency band into a plurality of frequency sub-bands within at least one of the plurality of cells; implementing a multiple access scheme within each of said plurality of frequency sub-bands; specifying a power range for each of said plurality of frequency sub-bands, said power range representing a range of signal powers that are to be supported by one of a plurality of channels within each of said plurality of frequency sub-bands, wherein at least two of said plurality of frequency sub-bands are assigned power ranges that are different from one another; upon receipt of a first communication connection in the wireless communication system, ascertaining a receive power level associated with a receive side of the first communication and a transmit power level associated with a transmit side of the first communication; identifying at least one of said plurality of frequency sub-bands within the at least one cell that has a power range encompassing said receive power level; assigning a channel within said at least one of said plurality of frequency sub-bands that has said power range encompassing said receive power level to said receive side of said first communication connection; identifying at least one of said plurality of frequency sub-bands within the at least one cell that has a power range encompassing said transmit power level; and assigning a channel within said at least one of said plurality of frequency sub-bands that has said power range encompassing said transmit power level to said transmit side of said first communication connection.