Importance

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Abstract

In a TDMA cellular network, there is provided a mechanism for shared-carrier frequency-hopping. It comprises: allocating on a frame basis within a reuse diameter to one coverage area during certain timeslot(s) at least one from a pool of TDM-frame-hopped carriers and allocating on a frame basis within that carrier reuse diameter to another coverage area during certain other, substantially non-overlapping timeslot(s) that frame-hopped carrier, all in substantially non-interfering time-synchronism with any proximal reuse of that carrier, whereby the advantages of frequency hopping are obtained. Stated differently, it comprises: at one instant in time, allocating within a reuse diameter to one coverage area at least one of a plurality of hopped carriers and at that same instant in time, allocating within that carrier reuse diameter to another coverage area another of that plurality of hopped carriers, all in time-synchronism with any proximal reuse of that carrier. The control and access carriers may also be included in the hopping pool, causing certain timeslots to be hopped on a sequence different from the others. The pool of hopped carriers is further apportioned among co-located sites into hopping groups, thereby reducing intra-system synchronization requirements. To solve the near/far problem, TDM timeslots bordering hopping boundaries are preferentially allocated to less distant mobile users.

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First Claim