Patent Document ID: 6023459
Application ID: 08760381
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for assigning a set of communications frequencies to a plurality of network elements, each operating at least one frequency, the method comprising the steps of: representing each said network element as a corresponding respective set of at least one frequency site node; linking said plurality of frequency site nodes together by a plurality of dimensioned links, each said dimensioned link representing a constraint on the assignment of a communications frequency to at least one said node; determining at least one order in which to assign said plurality of communications frequencies to said plurality of nodes; for each node of the plurality, where possible assigning a frequency which does not interfere with frequencies assigned to other said nodes; and for each node for which a non interfering frequency cannot be assigned, assigning to said node a frequency which causes a minimum interference with frequencies assigned to other said nodes, wherein during said step of assigning a non-interfering frequency said nodes are selected in a first order and said frequencies are assigned to said nodes taken in said first order, and during said step of assigning a minimally interfering frequency, said nodes are selected in a second order and said frequencies are assigned to said nodes taken in said second order.