Patent ID: 8195172

Claim:
A method for allocation of channels by a cellular network operator to base stations, where each of the base stations is assigned within one of a plurality of base station cells of a tiered cellular communications system comprising: a) indexing the base station cells within a cellular communications system according to rows and columns; b) determining a co-channel interference requirement within the cellular communications system; c) determining the number (N) of cell types required within the cellular communications system; d) placing only one cell type in each row; e) allocating channels to each base station of the base station cells according to: i) allocate a distinct group of S+X channels for each cell type, where S is the number of sectors in an outer tier of a cell, and X is the number of channels needed to complete an alternation scheme, ii) divide the S+X number of channels into rotating groups and alternating groups, iii) designate which sector types of an outer tier of a cell receive members of the rotating group, iv) designate which sector types of an outer tier of a cell receive members of the alternating group, v) for a first row, first column cell: allocate members of the rotating group into the designated rotating group sectors of the first row, first column cell, allocate at least one of the alternating group into the designated alternating group sector or sectors, vi) for each succeeding cell in the row, rotate allocation of the members of the rotating group between or among the designated rotating sectors and alternate the allocation of members of the alternating group within the designated alternating group sector or sectors, and vii) for an unallocated tier within a cell, allocate an unused member of the alternating group for that cell to the unallocated tier; and f) operating each of the base stations according to the allocated channels.