Abstract: A method of reducing interference in a cellular radio communication including performing a courtesy handover of a first call to another channel to reduce interference in a second call when the presence of the first call on the same frequency as the second call causes the interference in the second call. Also, a method of setting up a call which permits a retry to a macro cell when a channel of sufficient quality is not found in a micro cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for channel hopping between mobile stations (MS1-MS3) and a base station (BS1) in a radio communications system. A channel allocation means (211) within the base station (BS1) generates channel hopping sequences that are transmitted via a control channel (SACCH) to hopping sequence lists (204-206) in the mobile stations (MS1-MS3). The hopping sequences are also transmitted to corresponding hopping sequence lists (201-203) in the base station (BS1). A channel hopping sequence is divided into a number of sequence intervals (Ti) corresponding to the time between two adjacent channel hops within a channel hopping sequence. In the channel allocation means (211) the attenuation (&dgr;) of the connections (F1-F3) and the interference (I(channel,t)) of the channels are continuously being observed within each sequence interval (Ti).

Abstract: A transmitter diversity assembly and an associated method for a radio transmitter. When coupled to a radio transmitter to form a portion thereof, signal diversity is created to overcome multi-path fading. A plurality of antennas are freely selectable to be coupled to receive bursts of a communication signal, modulated to be transmitted on any of selected carriers. By altering the carriers upon which the bursts of the communication signal are transmitted and the spatially-separated antennas used to transduce the bursts of the communication signal, both transmission space diversity and frequency diversity is created. Polarization diversity is further provided by utilization of dual-polarized antennas.

Abstract: A radio communications systems which utilize channel hopping such that those channels which have high channel quality for a given connection are used more often than channels having lower channel quality for the same connection. Channel quality, for instance interference, is measured with respect to uplink connections and with respect to downlink connections. The measured interference values are then stored in an interference list for each of the connections in the radio communications system. The interference lists are converted to corresponding weight lists for each of the connections in both uplink and downlink in the base station. A channel which has a high weight value for a given connection will appear more often in corresponding hopsequence lists than a channel which has a lower weight value.

Abstract: A transmitter diversity assembly and an associated method for a radio transmitter. When coupled to a radio transmitter to form a portion thereof, signal diversity is created to overcome multi-path fading. A plurality of antennas are freely selectable to be coupled to receive bursts of a communication signal, modulated to be transmitted on any of selected carriers. By altering the carriers upon which the bursts of the communication signal are transmitted and the spatially-separated antennas used to transduce the bursts of the communication signal, both transmission space diversity and frequency diversity is created.

Abstract: The source cell of a radio signal broadcast within a cellular radio network is determined by several alternative techniques. Each involves either a mobile station or a base station broadcasting a system-unique identity signal from which the network can determine the source of the signal. From the unique source of the signal the network can determine the geographic source from which the signal originated and use that information to perform automatic system administration functions, such as, prepare a best neighbor list or perform frequency planning and allocation for the network.

Abstract: A transmitter diversity assembly and an associated method for a radio transmitter. When coupled to a radio transmitter to form a portion thereof, signal diversity is created to overcome multi-path fading. A plurality of antennas are freely selectable to be coupled to receive bursts of a communication signal, modulated to be transmitted on any of selected carriers. By altering the carriers upon which the bursts of the communication signal are transmitted and the spatially-separated antennas used to transduce the bursts of the communication signal, both transmission space diversity and frequency diversity is created.

Abstract: A method and system of adaptive channel allocation in a multi-carrier, multi-slot system is provided. In the method and system a subset of M channels is chosen from a larger set of N channels available for communications on a link. As communications take place on the link, signal quality (C/I) measurements on the channels of the subset of M channels and interference (I) measurements on the channels of the group of N channels are periodically performed. The C/I and I measurements are then used to reconfigure the subset of M channels to reduce co-channel interference on the link.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an arrangement for effecting base orthogonal channel hopping between mobile stations (MS1-MS3) and a base station in a radio communications system. Connections (F1-F3) having low attenuation are allotted a number of channels having high interference I (channel, t). Connections (F1-F3) that have higher attenuation are allocated a number of channels that have lower interference I (channel, t). A channel allocation means (211) in the base station functions to produce channel hopsequences which are transferred to hopsequence lists (204-206) in the mobile stations (MS1-MS3), via a control channel SACCH. The channel hopsequences are also transferred to corresponding hopsequence lists (201-203) in the base station. Attenuation of the connections (F1-F3) and interference on the channels I (channel, t) are measured continuously in the channel allocating means (211), wherein the best channels with respect to interference are used.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptively reconfiguring a neighbor cell list. For a selected cell of a cellular system, data associated with the selected cell and each of a plurality of neighboring base stations is collected. The collected data includes data on events indicative of the quality of handoffs from the selected cell to each of the neighboring base stations. The collected data also includes signal level measurements made on measurement channels of the neighboring base stations. A plurality of quality values, each associated with the selected cell and one of the neighboring cells, are then determined from the collected data. A neighbor cell list is then generated for the selected cell by determining the highest quality values, and placing the handoff measurement channels of the neighboring cells associated with the highest quality values in the neighbor cell list.

Abstract: A cellular communication system has a plurality of cells and a plurality of channels. The plurality of channels includes a plurality of measurable channels for which interference can be measured in both uplink and downlink directions and a plurality of unmeasured channels for which interference are not made in both uplink and downlink directions. The measurable channels, designated probe channels, may be channels for use in a digital system. The unmeasured channels may be channels for use in an analog system, or broadcast channels. A method and apparatus for allocating the plurality of channels comprises initially organizing the plurality of channels into a plurality of channel groups, wherein each channel group includes at least one probe channel, and wherein at least one of the channel groups further includes at least one unmeasured channel.

Abstract: Circuitry, and an associated method for a multi-user communication system, such as a cellular communication system. Additional communication is selectively permitted in the communication system through operation of the circuitry. Levels of communication quality of ongoing communication in the communication system are determined. When a request is made to admit additional communication, the additional communication is admitted only when the level of communication quality is better than a selected threshold.