Abstract: The invention relates to frequency planning in a cellular communication system, such as a GSM cellular communication system. An apparatus for frequency planning comprises an interference matrix processor (201) which generates an interference matrix comprising interference relationships between different cells. For example, carrier to interference or interference penalty values for cell pairs can be determined. An interference matrix limiter (203) limits the number of interference relationships to a first number, N, of highest interference relationships for each cell. The first number N can be determined in response to the re-use pattern and number of frequencies available for the frequency plan. A frequency plan processor (205) then proceeds to perform a frequency planning using the interference matrix.

Abstract: The invention relates to determining a transmit power in a cellular communication system comprising a cell including an inner zone served by a first carrier and an outer zone. A base station (201) comprises a receiver (211) for receiving measurement reports from communication units (203, 205, 207, 209). The measurement reports comprise receive characteristics such as receive signal levels. A distribution processor (217) generates a distribution of the receive characteristics, and a modified transmit power processor (219) determines a modified transmit power level in response to the distribution. Specifically, a modified transmit power level is determined as the power reduction of a transmit power that will result in a given traffic distribution between the inner zone and the outer zone. the modified transmit power processor (219) is coupled to a cell transmit power processor (225) which determines a cell transmit power associated with the first carrier in response to the modified transmit power level.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for setting pilot signal transit powers in a CDMA system. Subscriber units (211,213,215) perform pilot signal measurement measurements and transmits these to a receiver (603). A processor (605) determines a ranking factor for each cell (217, 219,221) at least partly dependent on the pilot signal measurement and a cell overlap condition of the subscriber unit (211, 213, 215) during measurements. The processor (605) ranks the cells (217,219,221) according to the ranking factor, and sets the pilot signal transmit power of at least one cell in response to the ranking of the cells by adjusting a power amplifier (609). The cell overlap condition is determined as the handover state of the subscriber unit (211,213,215) or as the number of cells, which can be received by the subscriber unit (211,213,215) during the measurement The invention is applicable to 3rd generation cellular communication systems.

Abstract: A method (300) determines a per-cell coverage area in a cellular communication system that comprises multiple cells. The method comprises measuring (305) one or more parameters relating to one or more operations of a first cell in a cellular communication system. The method includes calculating (320) a degree of coverage overlap from a number of measurements, preferably by comparing a number of first measurements relating to a location that is uniquely served, with a number of second measurements that can be served by a plurality of serving communication units. Tn this manner, it is possible to determine an amount of overlapping coverage area based on real network measurements rather than inaccurate predicted data that has been t—aditionally employed. Preferably, the measurements afe converted to Erlangs to provide a coverage overlap based on subscriber traffic. A communication system (100) and a communication unit (146) are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to determining a transmit power in a cellular communication system comprising a cell including an inner zone served by a first carrier and an outer zone. A base station (201) comprises a receiver (211) for receiving measurement reports from communication units (203, 205, 207, 209). The measurement reports comprise receive characteristics such as receive signal levels. A distribution processor (217) generates a distribution of the receive characteristics, and a modified transmit powr processor (219) determines a modified transmit power level in response to the distribution. Specifically, a modified transmit power level is determined as the power reduction of a transmit power that will result in a given traffic distribution between the inner zone and the outer zone. the modified transmit powre processor (219) is coupled to a cell transmit powre processor (225) which determines a cell transmit power associated with the first carrier in response to the modified transmit powr level.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for determining an interference relationship between cells of a cellular communication system comprising at least a first cell and a second cell. A method comprises the step of dividing (205) an evaluation interval into a plurality of sub-intervals. For each sub interval, the method proceeds to determine (209) a sub-interval simultaneous occupancy related to the correlation between communication in the first and second cell. The sub-interval simultaneous occupancy is determined from an occupancy of each of the first cell and the second cell. A sub-interval potential interference is then determined (209) in response to the interference characteristics in each sub-interval. An interference relationship is subsequently determined from the sub-interval potential interferences and the sub-interval simultaneous occupancies. The interference relationship provides a measure of the impact of interference between the first and second cell suitable for frequency planning.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for setting pilot signal transit powers in a CDMA system. Subscriber units (211,213,215) perform pilot signal measurement measurements and transmits these to a receiver (603). A processor (605) determines a ranking factor for each cell (217, 219,221) at least partly dependent on the pilot signal measurement and a cell overlap condition of the subscriber unit (211, 213, 215) during measurements. The processor (605) ranks the cells (217,219,221) according to the ranking factor, and sets the pilot signal transmit power of at least one cell in response to the ranking of the cells by adjusting a power amplifier (609). The cell overlap condition is determined as the handover state of the subscriber unit (211,213,215) or as the number of cells, which can be received by the subscriber unit (211,213,215) during the measurement The invention is applicable to 3rd generation cellular communication systems.