Abstract: A method for assigning frequency channels to base stations in a cellular communication system that coexists with a set of existing fixed site microwave receivers groups the base stations into clusters and the potential frequency channels into channel blocks. Each cluster is then assigned a usage parameter indicative of how many base stations within the cluster may operate within a given channel block. A computer model is operated to predict whether aggregate interference from the base stations and the associated handsets at the existing fixed site receivers would be excessive. If so, the usage parameters are revised to reduce the number of base stations within the respective cluster that may operate within an interfering channel block. These steps are repeated until the aggregate interference from the base stations and associated handsets at the existing fixed site microwave receivers is no longer excessive.

Abstract: In a communications system network that comprises a plurality of communication systems and a processing multiplexer, a method and apparatus for selectively muting particular signal sources of a communication system is disclosed. In each communication system, a processing multiplexer interface module detects when a mute request is generated and injects a null audio signal into a corresponding TDM slot of a source interface bus. This process can be used to localize audio communications of a particular signal source in a communication system or may be used for individual communication system testing of its audio signal bus.