Cellular radio network reusing frequencies

Abstract

Method of arranging a cellular radio network in a geographical area which is already covered by an existing cellular radio network, wherein cell clusters of the cellular radio network to be introduced and using a specific transmission frequency are located in areas determined by connecting at least two cells of the existing cellular radio network using the specific transmission frequency, and wherein the cell clusters are arranged such that they do not overlap with the cells of the existing cellular radio network. The cell clusters of the introduced cellular radio network may be adjusted by reducing the cell size of cell clusters of the introduced cellular radio network, and by introducing new cells into cell clusters of the introduced cellular radio network. The invention allows to reuse frequencies of an existing cellular radio network by an introduced cellular radio network in the same geographical area.

1 - 49 . (canceled)  
   
   
       50 . Apparatus for adjusting at least one cell parameter of at least one cell of at least one cell cluster of an introduced cellular radio network using a first frequency range, the at least one cell cluster including at least one cell, the introduced cellular radio network being arranged in a geographical area served by an existing cellular radio network, the existing cellular radio network using a second frequency range at least overlapping the first frequency range, comprising electronic circuitry configured to: 
 receive a value indicating an interference caused by the introduced cellular radio network in the existing cellular radio network; and    adjust at least one parameter of the introduced cellular network in dependence on the measured interference caused by the introduced cellular radio network in the existing cellular radio network.    
   
   
       51 . Apparatus according to  claim 50 , wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to adjust at least one of the size of the at least one cell of the at least one cell cluster of the introduced cellular radio network, the number of cells of the at least one cell cluster, a maximum number of subscribers and a transmission power used for transmissions in a cell of a cell cluster of the introduced cellular radio network.  
   
   
       52 . Apparatus according to  claim 50 , wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to reduce the size of the at least one cell of the at least one cell cluster of the introduced cellular radio network and to introduce at least one cell into the at least one cell cluster, if the measured interference caused by the introduced cellular radio network in the existing cellular radio network is larger than a first predetermined threshold.  
   
   
       53 . Apparatus according to  claim 50 , wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to increase the size of the at least one cell of the at least one cell cluster of the introduced cellular radio network and to remove at least one cell from the at least one cell cluster, if the measured interference caused by the introduced cellular radio network in the existing cellular radio network is smaller than a second predetermined threshold.  
   
   
       54 . Apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to receive values indicating the interference caused by the introduced cellular radio network in the existing cellular radio network at a plurality of measurement locations and to determine at least one cell cluster causing the measured interference and to adjust the determined cell clusters in accordance with the measured interference.  
   
   
       55 . Apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to receive a value indicating an interference caused by the existing cellular radio network in the introduced cellular radio network, to reduce the size of the at least one cell of the at least one cell cluster of the introduced cellular radio network, and to introduce new cells into the at least one cell cluster, if the measured interference caused by the existing cellular radio network in the introduced cellular radio network is larger than a third predetermined threshold.  
   
   
       56 . Apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to increase the size of the at least one cell of the at least one cell cluster and to remove at least one cell from the at least one cell cluster of the introduced cellular radio network, if the measured interference caused by the existing cellular radio network in the introduced cellular radio network is smaller than a fourth predetermined threshold.  
   
   
       57 . Apparatus for adjusting cell parameters of at least one cell of at least one cell cluster of an introduced cellular radio network using a first frequency range, the at least one cell cluster including at least one cell, the introduced cellular radio network being arranged in a geographical area served by an existing cellular radio network, the existing cellular radio network using a second frequency range at least overlapping the first frequency range, comprising electronic circuitry configured to: 
 receive a value indicating an interference caused by the existing cellular radio network in the introduced cellular radio network; and    adjust at least one parameter of the introduced cellular network in dependence on the measured interference caused by the existing cellular radio network in the introduced cellular radio network.    
   
   
       58 . Apparatus according to  claim 57 , wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to adjust at least one of the size of the at least one cell of the at least one cell cluster of the introduced cellular radio network, the number of cells of the at least one cell cluster, a maximum number of subscribers, and a transmission power used for transmissions in a cell of a cell cluster of the introduced cellular radio network.  
   
   
       59 . Apparatus for adjusting cell parameters of at least one cell of at least one cell cluster of an existing cellular radio network using a second frequency range, the at least one cell cluster including at least one cell, an introduced cellular radio network being arranged in a geographical area served by the existing cellular radio network, the introduced cellular radio network using a first frequency range at least overlapping the second frequency range, comprising: 
 interference determining means for receiving a value indicating an interference caused by the introduced cellular radio network in the existing cellular radio network; and    adjusting means for adjusting at least one parameter of the existing cellular network in dependence on the measured interference caused by the introduced cellular radio network in the existing cellular radio network.    
   
   
       60 . Apparatus according to  claim 59 , wherein the adjusting means is adapted to adjust at least one of the size of the at least one cell of the at least one cell cluster of the existing cellular radio network, the number of cells of the at least one cell cluster, a maximum number of subscribers and a transmission power used for transmissions in a cell of a cell cluster of the existing cellular radio network.  
   
   
       61 . Apparatus for adjusting cell parameters of at least one cell of at least one cell cluster of an existing cellular radio network using a second frequency range, the at least one cell cluster including at least one cell, an introduced cellular radio network being arranged in a geographical area served by the existing cellular radio network, the introduced cellular radio network using a first frequency range at least overlapping the second frequency range, comprising: 
 interference determining means for receiving a value indicating an interference caused by the existing cellular radio network in the introduced cellular radio network; and    adjusting means for adjusting at least one parameter of the existing cellular network in dependence on the measured interference caused by the existing cellular radio network in the introduced cellular radio network.    
   
   
       62 . Apparatus according to  claim 61 , wherein the adjusting means is adapted to adjust at least one of the size of the at least one cell of the at least one cell cluster of the existing cellular radio network, the number of cells of the at least one cell cluster, a maximum number of subscribers and a transmission power used for transmissions in a cell of a cell cluster of the existing cellular radio network.  
   
   
       63 . Method of adjusting cell parameters of at least one cell of at least one cell cluster of an introduced cellular radio network using a first frequency range, the at least one cell cluster including at least one cell, the introduced cellular radio network being arranged in a geographical area served by an existing cellular radio network, the existing cellular radio network using a second frequency range at least overlapping the first frequency range, comprising: 
 receiving a value indicating an interference caused by the introduced cellular radio network in the existing cellular radio network; and    adjusting at least one parameter of the introduced cellular radio network depending on the measured interference caused by the introduced cellular radio network in the existing cellular radio network.    
   
   
       64 . Method of adjusting cell parameters of  claim 63 , wherein the adjusting includes adjusting at least one of the size of the at least one cell of the at least one cell cluster of the introduced cellular radio network, the number of cells of the at least one cell cluster, a maximum number of subscribers and a transmission power used for transmissions in a cell of a cell cluster of the introduced cellular radio network.  
   
   
       65 . Method of adjusting cell parameters of  claim 63 , including: 
 reducing the size of the at least one cell of the at least one cell cluster of the introduced cellular radio network and introducing at least one new cell into the at least one cell cluster, if the measured interference caused by the introduced cellular radio network in the existing cellular radio network is larger than a first predetermined threshold.    
   
   
       66 . Method of adjusting cell parameters of  claim 63 , including: 
 increasing the size of the at least one cell of the at least one cell cluster of the introduced cellular radio network and removing at least one cell from the at least one cell cluster, if the measured interference caused by the introduced cellular radio network in the existing cellular radio network is smaller than a second predetermined threshold.    
   
   
       67 . Method of adjusting cell parameters of  claim 63 , including: 
 receiving values indicating an interference caused by the introduced cellular radio network in the existing cellular radio network at a plurality of measurement locations,    determining the cell clusters causing the measured interference at each measurement location, and    adjusting the determined cell clusters in accordance with the measured interference.    
   
   
       68 . Method of adjusting cell parameters of  claim 63 , including: 
 receiving a value indicating an interference caused by the existing cellular radio network in the introduced cellular radio network; and    reducing the size of the at least one cell of the at least one cell cluster of the introduced cellular radio network and introducing at least one new cell into the at least one cell cluster, if the measured interference caused by the existing cellular radio network in the introduced cellular radio network is larger than a third predetermined threshold.    
   
   
       69 . Method of adjusting cell parameters of  claim 63 , increasing the size of the at least one cell of the at least one cell cluster of the introduced cellular radio network and removing at least one cell from the at least one cell cluster, if the measured interference caused by the existing cellular radio network in the introduced cellular radio network is smaller than a fourth predetermined threshold.  
   
   
       70 . Method of adjusting cell parameters of  claim 63 , including locating the center of each cell cluster in an area defined by connecting at least two cells of the existing cellular radio network using the same transmission frequency, such that they do not overlap with cells of the existing cellular radio network which are arranged to use the same transmission frequency as the cell cluster and both the cell cluster of the introduced cellular radio network.  
   
   
       71 . Method of adjusting cell parameters of  claim 63 , including defining the smallest triangle connecting the centers of three cells of the existing cellular radio network, the three cells using the same transmission frequency.  
   
   
       72 . Method of adjusting cell parameters of at least one cell of at least one cell cluster of an introduced cellular radio network using a first frequency range, the at least one cell cluster including at least one cell, the introduced cellular radio network being arranged in a geographical area served by an existing cellular radio network, the existing cellular radio network using a second frequency range at least overlapping the first frequency range, comprising: 
 receiving a value indicating an interference caused by the existing cellular radio network in the introduced cellular radio network; and    adjusting at least one parameter of the introduced cellular radio network depending on the measured interference caused by the existing cellular radio network in the introduced cellular radio network.    
   
   
       73 . Method of adjusting cell parameters of  claim 72 , wherein the adjusting includes adjusting at least one of the size of the at least one cell of the at least one cell cluster of the introduced cellular radio network, the number of cells of the at least one cell cluster, a maximum number of subscribers and a transmission power used for transmissions in a cell of a cell cluster of the introduced cellular radio network.  
   
   
       74 . Method of adjusting cell parameters of at least one cell of at least one cell cluster of an existing cellular radio network using a second frequency range, the at least one cell cluster including at least one cell, an introduced cellular radio network being arranged in a geographical area served by the existing cellular radio network, the introduced cellular radio network using a first frequency range at least overlapping the second frequency range, comprising: 
 receiving a value indicating an interference caused by the introduced cellular radio network in the existing cellular radio network; and    adjusting at least one parameter of the introduced cellular radio network depending on the measured interference caused by the introduced cellular radio network in the existing cellular radio network.    
   
   
       75 . Method of adjusting cell parameters of  claim 74 , wherein the adjusting includes adjusting at least one of the size of the at least one cell of the at least one cell cluster of the introduced cellular radio network, the number of cells of the at least one cell cluster, a maximum number of subscribers and a transmission power used for transmissions in a cell of a cell cluster of the existing cellular radio network.  
   
   
       76 . Method of adjusting cell parameters of at least one cell of at least one cell cluster of an existing cellular radio network using a second frequency range, the at least one cell cluster including at least one cell, an introduced cellular radio network being arranged in a geographical area served by the existing cellular radio network, the introduced cellular radio network using a first frequency range at least overlapping the second frequency range, comprising: 
 receiving a value indicating an interference caused by the existing cellular radio network in the introduced cellular radio network; and    adjusting at least one parameter of the introduced cellular radio network depending on the measured interference caused by the existing cellular radio network in the introduced cellular radio network.    
   
   
       77 . Method of adjusting cell parameters of  claim 76 , wherein the adjusting includes adjusting at least one of the size of the at least one cell of the at least one cell cluster of the introduced cellular radio network, the number of cells of the at least one cell cluster, a maximum number of subscribers and a transmission power used for transmissions in a cell of a cell cluster of the existing cellular radio network.  
   
   
       78 . A computer readable medium having recorded thereon a computer program executable by a computer for implementing the method of  claim 63 .  
   
   
       79 . A computer program product comprising the computer readable medium according to  claim 78 .  
   
   
       80 . Network planning tool to design a cellular radio network including the apparatus of  claim 50.