Abstract: In a cellular communication network (20) having a channel assignment plan (28) that distinguishes frequency channels (34) assigned to a plurality of cells (24), a method (58) and system (46) adapt the channel assignment plan (28) during network planning to include shared frequency channels (45). Borrower cells (84) are identified in response to a deficiency value (36) indicating a shortage in a quantity of the frequency channels (34) assigned to the borrower cells (84). Donor cells (95) are selected from the cells (24) in response to a load factor (38) for each of the cells (24), the load factor (38) indicating the number of frequency channels (34) already being shared by the cell (24). Candidate frequency channels (34) that may be shared are evaluated against predetermined channel sharing constraints, such as frequency separation constraints (156, 158), co-channel carrier-to-interference C/I constraints (232, and adjacent channel C/I) constraints (280).

Abstract: A method and computerized apparatus for assigning frequencies to a plurality of cells in a cellular network. Each cell requires a predetermined number of frequencies. The method includes generating a difficulty factor for each cell, wherein each cell's difficulty factor is based on an adjustment factor for that cell, and wherein, following a first unsuccessful assignment attempt, each cell's adjustment factor is indicative of a relative level of difficulty in selecting frequencies for that cell during the first unsuccessful assignment attempt.

Abstract: A cellular communication system (10) includes any number of land stations (12), each of which controls a cell (14). When channels are assigned to cells (14), a figure of merit which predicts potential voice quality, such as C/I, is determined (34) for each channel/cell assignment. The assigned channels and associated figures of merit are distributed to corresponding land stations (14) to make channel-to-cell assignments. When a call arises in a cell (14) a channel is selected for assignment to the call. The channel is selected from channels assigned during the channel-to-cell assignment phase. A channel assignment algorithm (68) ensures that potentially lower quality channels (20) are the least used channels at the cell (14). When potentially lower quality channels (20) are assigned to calls, the calls are handed off to potentially higher quality channels (18) as soon as potentially higher quality channels (18) become available.