Patent ID: 8280387

Claim:
A method for selecting a frequency band for use in a femtocell located within a coverage area of a macrocell, comprising: partitioning the coverage area of the macrocell into an inner region, an outer region, and a power control region located between the inner region and the outer region; within a femtocell base station, selecting for the femtocell a frequency band used in the macrocell, when the femtocell is located within the outer region or the power control region; within the femtocell base station, selecting for the femtocell a different frequency band than the frequency band used in the macrocell, when the femtocell is located within the inner region; within the femtocell base station, selecting a first fixed minimum operating power level for a femtocell base station when the femtocell is located within the inner region; within the femtocell base station, selecting a second fixed minimum operating power level for the femtocell base station when the femtocell is located within the outer region; and adapting an operating power level for the femtocell base station to achieve a desired coverage area for the femtocell when the femtocell is located within the power control region.