Patent ID: 8428605

Claim:
A method performed by a platform with respect to a neighbor platform, to join an existing multiple channel communication network of platforms that includes the neighbor platform, the platform and each platform of the network being capable of conveying user traffic via two or more channels, each channel respectively comprising a signaling technology and a direction, the method comprising: determining an identity of a tile an instance of which is in use by the neighbor platform, wherein a. the tile comprises a group of sets of channels, each set comprises a unique spatial position relative to the other sets of the group, each channel of a particular set has a direction away from a respective center of the set; and b. the neighbor platform is configured to communicate via a first plurality of channels in accordance with a first set of the group whereby the tile is in use by the neighbor platform and the first set is in use by the neighbor platform; determining an identity of a second set of the group that is not in use; and configuring the platform to communicate user traffic via a second plurality of channels in accordance with the second set of the group, wherein the user traffic originates or terminates with any one or more users served by the platform, the neighbor platform, or any platform of the network, whereby the tile is in use by the platform and the second set is in use by the platform.