초록 ▼

In many cellular systems, reusing spectrum bandwidth, creates problems in boundary regions between the cells and sectors where the signal strength received from adjacent base stations or adjacent sector transmissions of a single base station may be nearly equivalent. The invention creates a new typ

In many cellular systems, reusing spectrum bandwidth, creates problems in boundary regions between the cells and sectors where the signal strength received from adjacent base stations or adjacent sector transmissions of a single base station may be nearly equivalent. The invention creates a new type of diversity, referred to as multiple carrier diversity by utilizing multiple carriers, assigning different power levels to each carrier frequency at each base station, and/or offsetting sector antennas. The cell and/or sector coverage areas can be set so as to minimize or eliminate overlap between cell and/or sector boundary regions of different carrier frequencies. Mobile nodes traveling throughout the system can exploit multiple carrier diversity by detecting carriers and selecting to use a non-boundary carrier based on other system criteria in order to improve performance. Boundary carriers may, but need not be, identified and excluded from consideration for use by a wireless terminal.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A second base station for use in a second communications cell located adjacent a first communications cell in which a first base station transmits first and second carrier signals, the first carrier signal having a first carrier frequency with communication bandwidth, the sec

What is claimed is: 1. A second base station for use in a second communications cell located adjacent a first communications cell in which a first base station transmits first and second carrier signals, the first carrier signal having a first carrier frequency with communication bandwidth, the second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency with communications bandwidth, the second carrier frequency being different from the first carrier frequency, a first amount of power being allocated by the first base station for transmitting the first carrier signal and a second amount of power being allocated by the first base station to transmit the second carrier signal, the first amount of power being less than the second amount of power, the second base station comprising: means for transmitting a third carrier signal and a fourth carrier signal, the third carrier signal having the same carrier frequency as said first carrier signal, the fourth carrier signal have the same carrier frequency as said second carrier signal; and means for allocating transmission power to the third and fourth carrier signals to maintain a power difference between said third and fourth carrier signals, the transmission power allocated to the third carrier signal being greater than the transmission power allocated to the fourth carrier signal. 2. A second base station for use in a second communications cell located adjacent a first communications cell in which a first base station transmits first and second carrier signals, the first carrier signal having a first carrier frequency with communication bandwidth, the second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency with communications bandwidth, the second carrier frequency being different from the first carrier frequency, a first amount of power being allocated by the first base station for transmitting the first carrier signal and a second amount of power being allocated by the first base station to transmit the second carrier signal, the first amount of power being less than the second amount of power, the second base station comprising: means for transmitting a third carrier signal and a fourth carrier signal, the third carrier signal having the same carrier frequency as said first carrier signal, the fourth carrier signal have the same carrier frequency as said second carrier signal; and means for allocating transmission power to the third and fourth carrier signals to maintain a power difference between said third and fourth carrier signals, the transmission power allocated to the third carrier signal being greater than the transmission power allocated to the fourth carrier signal; wherein the difference between the power of the first and second carrier signals and the difference in power between the third and fourth power signals is sufficiently large to ensure that there is less than a 50 percent overlap in a first boundary region corresponding to interference between the first and third carrier signals and a second boundary region corresponding to interference between the second and fourth carrier signals; and wherein the first boundary region between said first and third carrier signals corresponds to a region where there is less than a 3 dB difference between the power of the first and third carrier signals. 3. The second base station of claim 2, wherein there is no overlap between the first and second boundary regions. 4. The second base station of claim 2, wherein the means for controlling the transmission power maintains a transmission power difference of at least 20 percent, on average, between the third and fourth carrier signals. 5. The second base station of claim 4, where the means for controlling the transmission power maintains the transmission power level of said third carrier signal to be approximately equal to the transmission power level of the second carrier signal; and maintains the transmission power level of said fourth carrier signal to be approximately equal to the transmission power level of the first carrier signal. 6. A second base station for use in a second communications cell located adjacent a first communications cell in which a first base station transmits first and second carrier signals, the first carrier signal having a first carrier frequency with communication bandwidth, the second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency with communications bandwidth, the second carrier frequency being different from the first carrier frequency, a first amount of power being allocated by the first base station for transmitting the first carrier signal and a second amount of power being allocated by the first base station to transmit the second carrier signal, the first amount of power being less than the second amount of power, the second base station comprising: means for transmitting a third carrier signal and a fourth carrier signal, the third carrier signal having the same carrier frequency as said first carrier signal, the fourth carrier signal have the same carrier frequency as said second carrier signal; and means for allocating transmission power to the third and fourth carrier signals to maintain a power difference between said third and fourth carrier signals, the transmission power allocated to the third carrier signal being greater than the transmission power allocated to the fourth carrier signal; means for allocating communications bandwidth of at least one of said third and fourth carrier signals to a wireless terminal as a function of information indicating whether the wireless terminal is in a non-boundary region, a first boundary region between said first and third carrier signals or a second boundary region between said second and fourth carrier signals. 7. The second base station of claim 6, wherein said first base station includes means for allocating communications bandwidth corresponding to the second carrier signal when said information indicates that said wireless terminal is in said first boundary region. 8. The second base station of claim 6, wherein said means for allocating communications bandwidth allocates communications bandwidth corresponding to the third carrier signal when said information indicates that said wireless terminal is in said second boundary region. 9. The second base station of claim 6, wherein said means for allocating communications bandwidth allocates communications bandwidth corresponding to one of either said third and fourth carrier signals when said information indicates that said wireless terminal is in a non-boundary region. 10. The second base station of claim 6, further comprising: means for receiving intercell interference information and intracell interference information from a wireless terminal and determining from said received information whether the wireless terminal is in a boundary region or a non-boundary region. 11. The second base station of claim 10, wherein said intercell interference information and intracell interference information are included in channel quality information received from said wireless terminal. 12. A second base station for use in a second communications cell located adjacent a first communications cell in which a first base station transmits first and second carrier signals, the first carrier signal having a first carrier frequency with communication bandwidth, the second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency with communications bandwidth, the second carrier frequency being different from the first carrier frequency, a first amount of power being allocated by the first base station for transmitting the first carrier signal and a second amount of power being allocated by the first base station to transmit the second carrier signal, the first amount of power being less than the second amount of power, the second base station comprising: means for transmitting a third carrier signal and a fourth carrier signal, the third carrier signal having the same carrier frequency as said first carrier signal, the fourth carrier signal have the same carrier frequency as said second carrier signal; means for allocating transmission power to the third and fourth carrier signals to maintain a power difference between said third and fourth carrier signals, the transmission power allocated to the third carrier signal being greater than the transmission power allocated to the fourth carrier signal; means for allocating communications bandwidth of at least one of said third and fourth carrier signals to a wireless terminal as a function of information indicating whether the wireless terminal is in a non-boundary region, a first boundary region between said first and third carrier signals or a second boundary region between said second and fourth carrier signals; and wherein said means for allocating communication bandwidth allocates communications bandwidth to a wireless terminal from the third carrier signal when said wireless terminal enters an intercell boundary region corresponding to said second and fourth carrier signals, said allocating causing an intercarrier handoff within said second base station prior to said wireless terminal encountering an unacceptable level of signal interference when using said fourth carrier signal. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said unacceptable level of signal interference occurs when a power level of an interference signal is 80% or more of a power level of a signal of interest. 14. A communications cell, comprising: a base station including: i) means for transmitting a different first carrier signal into each of a first set of sectors of said cell, each of the different first carrier signals having a first carrier frequency which is the same; ii) means for transmitting a different second carrier signal into each of a second set of sectors of said cell, each of the different second carrier signals having a second carrier frequency which is different from the first carrier frequency, said first and second sets of sectors overlapping but having sector boundaries which are offset from one another; iii) means for determining from information received from a wireless terminal whether said wireless terminal is located in a sector boundary area corresponding to the first carrier frequency, a sector boundary area corresponding to the second carrier frequency or a non-sector boundary area; and iv) means for allocating communications bandwidth to said wireless terminal as a function of determined boundary area information, said means for allocating communications bandwidth allocates communications bandwidth corresponding to one of said different second carrier signals when said Wireless terminal is determined to be in a sector boundary area corresponding to the first carrier frequency. 15. The communications cell of claim 14, wherein said first set of sectors includes sector boundaries which are offset from sector boundaries of said second set of sectors by at least 10 degrees. 16. The communications cell of claim 15, wherein each of the first and second sets of sectors include 3 sectors and wherein the sector boundaries of the first set of sectors are offset from the sector boundaries of the second set of sectors by 60 degrees. 17. The communications cell of claim 14, wherein said means for allocating communications bandwidth allocates communications bandwidth corresponding to one of said different first carrier signals to said wireless terminal when said wireless terminal is determined to be in a sector boundary area corresponding to the second carrier frequency. 18. The communications cell of claim 14, wherein said means for allocating communications bandwidth allocates communications bandwidth corresponding to one of said first and second carrier signals to said wireless terminal when said wireless terminal is determined to be in a non-sector boundary area, said allocating being performed as a function of first and second carrier loading information relating to the sector in which said wireless terminal is located. 19. The communications cell of claim 14, wherein said means for allocating communications bandwidth allocates communications bandwidth corresponding to different ones of said first and second carrier signals to a wireless terminal in a sector causing an intracell intersector intercarrier handoff, said intracell intersector intercarrier handoff being performed while said wireless terminal is still able to reliably communicate with the base station using the carrier which will no longer be used by the wireless terminal following the handoff. 20. The communications cell of claim 19, wherein the handoff occurs while signal interference power level remains below 80% of the power level of the carrier which will no longer be used. 21. The communications cell of claim 19, wherein said means for allocating communications bandwidth allocates communications bandwidth by evaluating feedback information received from a wireless terminal to determine which carrier frequency would be best for transmitting data to said wireless terminal and completes an intracell intersector intercarrier handoff when it is determined that a carrier frequency other than the one currently being used to communicate with said wireless terminal would be better suited for such communication. 22. The communications cell of claim 21, wherein said intracell intersector intercarrier handoff is performed at least once while the carrier frequency being used to communicate data to said wireless terminal provides a satisfactory signal to noise ratio. 23. A second base station for use in a second communications cell located adjacent a first communications cell in which a first base station transmits first and second carrier signals, the first carrier signal having a first carrier frequency with communication bandwidth, the second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency with the communications bandwidth, the second carrier frequency being different from the first carrier frequency, a first amount of power being allocated by the first base station for transmitting the first carrier signal and a second amount of power being allocated by the first base station to transmit the second carrier signal, the first amount of power being less than the second amount of power, the second base station comprising: a wireless transmitter module for transmitting a third carrier signal and a fourth carrier signal, the third carrier signal having the same carrier frequency as said first signal, the fourth carrier signal have the same carrier frequency as said second carrier signal; and a power allocation module for allocating transmission power to the third and fourth carrier signals to maintain a power difference between said third and fourth carrier signals, the transmission power allocated to the third carrier signal being greater than the transmission power allocated to the fourth carrier signal. 24. A method of operating a second base station in a second communications cell located adjacent a first communications cell in which a first base station transmits first and second carrier signals, the first carrier signal having a first carrier frequency with communication bandwidth, the second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency with communications bandwidth, the second carrier frequency being different from the first carrier frequency, a first amount of power being allocated by the first base station for transmitting the first carrier signal and a second amount of power being allocated by the first base station to transmit the second carrier signal, the first amount of power being less than the second amount of power, the method comprising: transmitting a third carrier signal; transmitting a fourth carrier signal, wherein the third carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said first carrier signal, and wherein the fourth carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said second carrier signal; and allocating transmission power to the third and fourth carrier signals to maintain a power difference between said third and fourth carrier signals, the transmission power allocated to the third carrier signal being greater than the transmission power allocated to the fourth carrier signal. 25. A computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for controlling a second base station to implement a method, the second base station being in a second communications cell located adjacent a first communications cell in which a first base station transmits first and second carrier signals, the first carrier signal having a first carrier frequency with communication bandwidth, the second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency with communications bandwidth, the second carrier frequency being different from the first carrier frequency, a first amount of power being allocated by the first base station for transmitting the first carrier signal and a second amount of power being allocated by the first base station to transmit the second carrier signal, the first amount of power being less than the second amount of power, the method comprising: transmitting a third carrier signal; transmitting a fourth carrier signal, wherein the third carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said first carrier signal, and wherein the fourth carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said second carrier signal; and allocating transmission power to the third and fourth carrier signals to maintain a power difference between said third and fourth carrier signals, the transmission power allocated to the third carrier signal being greater than the transmission power allocated to the fourth carrier signal. 26. An apparatus for use in the second base station in a second communications cell located adjacent a first communications cell in which a first base station transmits first and second carrier signals, the first carrier signal having a first carrier frequency with communication bandwidth, the second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency with communications bandwidth, the second carrier frequency being different from the first carrier frequency, a first amount of power being allocated by the first base station for transmitting the first carrier signal and a second amount of power being allocated by the first base station to transmit the second carrier signal, the first amount of power being less than the second amount of power, the apparatus comprising: a processor configured to: control transmission of a third carrier signal; control transmission of a fourth carrier signal, wherein the third carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said first carrier signal, and wherein the fourth carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said second carrier signal; and allocate transmission power to the third and fourth carrier signals to maintain a power difference between said third and fourth carrier signals, the transmission power allocated to the third carrier signal being greater than the transmission power allocated to the fourth carrier signal. 27. A second base station for use in a second communications cell located adjacent a first communications cell in which a first base station transmits first and second carrier signals, the first carrier signal having a first carrier frequency with communication bandwidth, the second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency with communications bandwidth, the second carrier frequency being different from the first carrier frequency, a first amount of power being allocated by the first base station for transmitting the first carrier signal and a second amount of power being allocated by the first base station to transmit the second carrier signal, the first amount of power being less than the second amount of power, the second base station comprising: a wireless transmitter module for transmitting a third carrier signal and a fourth carrier signal, the third carrier signal having the same carrier frequency as said first carrier signal, the fourth carrier signal have the same carrier frequency as said second carrier signal; and a power allocation module for allocating transmission power to the third and fourth carrier signals to maintain a power difference between said third and fourth carrier signals, the transmission power allocated to the third carrier signal being greater than the transmission power allocated to the fourth carrier signal; wherein the difference between the power of the first and second carrier signals and the difference in power between the third and fourth power signals is sufficiently large to ensure that there is less than a 50 percent overlap in a first boundary region corresponding to interference between the first and third carrier signals and a second boundary region corresponding to interference between the second and fourth carrier signals; and wherein the first boundary region between said first and third carrier signals corresponds to a region where there is less than a 3 dB difference between the power of the first and third carrier signals. 28. A method of operating a second base station in a second communications cell located adjacent a first communications cell in which a first base station transmits first and second carrier signals, the first carrier signal having a first carrier frequency with communication bandwidth, the second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency with communications bandwidth, the second carrier frequency being different from the first carrier frequency, a first amount of power being allocated by the first base station for transmitting the first carrier signal and a second amount of power being allocated by the first base station to transmit the second carrier signal, the first amount of power being less than the second amount of power, the method comprising: transmitting a third carrier signal; transmitting a fourth carrier signal, wherein the third carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said first carrier signal, and wherein the fourth carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said second carrier signal; and allocating transmission power to the third and fourth carrier signals to maintain a power difference between said third and fourth carrier signals, the transmission power allocated to the third carrier signal being greater than the transmission power allocated to the fourth carrier signal; wherein the difference between the power of the first and second carrier signals and the difference in power between the third and fourth power signals is sufficiently large to ensure that there is less than a 50 percent overlap in a first boundary region corresponding to interference between the first and third carrier signals and a second boundary region corresponding to interference between the second and fourth carrier signals; and wherein the first boundary region between said first and third carrier signals corresponds to a region where there is less than a 3 dB difference between the power of the first and third carrier signals. 29. A computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for controlling a second base station to implement a method, said second base station being in a second communications cell located adjacent a first communications cell in which a first base station transmits first and second carrier signals, the first carrier signal having a first carrier frequency with communication bandwidth, the second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency with communications bandwidth, the second carrier frequency being different from the first carrier frequency, a first amount of power being allocated by the first base station for transmitting the first carrier signal and a second amount of power being allocated by the first base station to transmit the second carrier signal, the first amount of power being less than the second amount of power, the method comprising: controlling transmission of a third carrier signal; controlling transmission of a fourth carrier signal, wherein the third carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said first carrier signal, and wherein the fourth carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said second carrier signal; and allocating transmission power to the third and fourth carrier signals to maintain a power difference between said third and fourth carrier signals, the transmission power allocated to the third carrier signal being greater than the transmission power allocated to the fourth carrier signal; wherein the difference between the power of the first and second carrier signals and the difference in power between the third and fourth power signals is sufficiently large to ensure that there is less than a 50 percent overlap in a first boundary region corresponding to interference between the first and third carrier signals and a second boundary region corresponding to interference between the second and fourth carrier signals; and wherein the first boundary region between said first and third carrier signals corresponds to a region where there is less than a 3 dB difference between the power of the first and third carrier signals. 30. An apparatus for use in a second base station, said second base station being in a second communications cell located adjacent a first communications cell in which a first base station transmits first and second carrier signals, the first carrier signal having a first carrier frequency with communication bandwidth, second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency with communications bandwidth, the second carrier frequency being different from the first carrier frequency, a first amount of power being allocated by the first base station for transmitting the first carrier signal and a second amount of power being allocated by the first base station to transmit the second carrier signal, the first amount of power being less than the second amount of power, the apparatus comprising: a processor configured to: control transmission of a third carrier signal; control transmission of a fourth carrier signal, wherein the third carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said first carrier signal, and wherein the fourth carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said second carrier signal; and allocate transmission power to the third and fourth carrier signals to maintain a power difference between said third and fourth carrier signals, the transmission power allocated to the third carrier signal being greater than the transmission power allocated to the fourth carrier signal; wherein the difference between the power of the first and second carrier signals and the difference in power between the third and fourth power signals is sufficiently large to ensure that there is less than a 50 percent overlap in a first boundary region corresponding to interference between the first and third carrier signals and a second boundary region corresponding to interference between the second and fourth carrier signals; and wherein the first boundary region between said first and third carrier signals corresponds to a region where there is less than a 3 dB difference between the power of the first and third carrier signals. 31. A second base station for use in a second communications cell located adjacent a first communications cell in which a first base station transmits first and second carrier signals, the first carrier signal having a first carrier frequency with communication bandwidth, the second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency with communications bandwidth, the second carrier frequency being different from the first carrier frequency, a first amount of power being allocated by the first base station for transmitting the first carrier signal and a second amount of power being allocated by the first base station to transmit the second carrier signal, the first amount of power being less than the second amount of power, the second base station comprising: a wireless transmitter module for transmitting a third carrier signal and a fourth carrier signal, the third carrier signal having the same carrier frequency as said first carrier signal, the fourth carrier signal have the same carrier frequency as said second carrier signal; a power allocation module for allocating transmission power to the third and fourth carrier signals to maintain a power difference between said third and fourth carrier signals, the transmission power allocated to the third carrier signal being greater than the transmission power allocated to the fourth carrier signal; and a bandwidth allocation module for allocating communications bandwidth of at least one of said third and fourth carrier signals to a wireless terminal as a function of information indicating whether the wireless terminal is in a non-boundary region, a first boundary region between said first and third carrier signals or a second boundary region between said second and fourth carrier signals. 32. A method of operation a second base station to implement a method, said second base station being in a second communications cell located adjacent a first communications cell in which a first base station transmits first and second carrier signals, the first carrier signal having a first carrier frequency with communication bandwidth, the second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency with communications bandwidth, the second carrier frequency being different from the first carrier frequency, a first amount of power being allocated by the first base station for transmitting the first carrier signal and a second amount of power being allocated by the first base station to transmit the second carrier signal, the first amount of power being less than the second amount of power, the method comprising: transmitting a third carrier signal; transmitting a fourth carrier signal, wherein the third carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said first carrier signal, and wherein the fourth carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said second carrier signal; allocating transmission power to the third and fourth carrier signals to maintain a power difference between said third and fourth carrier signals, the transmission power allocated to the third carrier signal being greater than the transmission power allocated to the fourth carrier signal; and allocating communications bandwidth of at least one of said third and fourth carrier signals to a wireless terminal as a function of information indicating whether the wireless terminal is in a non-boundary region, a first boundary region between said first and third carrier signals or a second boundary region between said second and fourth carrier signals. 33. A computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for controlling a second base station to implement a method, said second base station being in a second communications cell located adjacent a first communications cell in which a first base station transmits first and second carrier signals, the first carrier signal having a first carrier frequency with communication bandwidth, the second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency with communications bandwidth, the second carrier frequency being different from the first carrier frequency, a first amount of power being allocated by the first base station for transmitting the first carrier signal and a second amount of power being allocated by the first base station to transmit the second carrier signal, the first amount of power being less than the second amount of power, the method comprising: controlling transmission of a third carrier signal; controlling transmission of a fourth carrier signal, wherein the third carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said first carrier signal, and wherein the fourth carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said second carrier signal; allocating transmission power to the third and fourth carrier signals to maintain a power difference between said third and fourth carrier signals, the transmission power allocated to the third carrier signal being greater than the transmission power allocated to the fourth carrier signal; and allocating communications, bandwidth of at least one of said third and fourth carrier signals to a wireless terminal as a function of information indicating whether the wireless terminal is in a non-boundary region, a first boundary region between said first and third carrier signals or a second boundary region between said second and fourth carrier signals. 34. An apparatus for use in a second base station, said second base station being in a second communications cell located adjacent a first communications cell in which a first base station transmits first and second carrier signals, the first carrier signal having a first carrier frequency with communication bandwidth, the second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency with communications bandwidth, the second carrier frequency being different from the first carrier frequency, a first amount of power being allocated by the first base station for transmitting the first carrier signal and a second amount of power being allocated by the first base station to transmit the second carrier signal, the first amount of power being less than the second amount of power, the apparatus comprising: a processor configured to: control transmission of a third carrier signal; control transmission of a fourth carrier signal, wherein the third carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said first carrier signal, and wherein the fourth carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said second carrier signal; allocate transmission power to the third and fourth carrier signals to maintain a power difference between said third and fourth carrier signals, the transmission power allocated to the third carrier signal being greater than the transmission power allocated to the fourth carrier signal; and allocate communications bandwidth of at least one of said third and fourth carrier signals to a wireless terminal as a function of information indicating whether the wireless terminal is in a non-boundary region, a first boundary region between said first and third carrier signals or a second boundary region between said second and fourth carrier signals. 35. A second base station for use in a second communications cell located adjacent a first communications cell in which a first base station transmits first and second carrier signals, the first carrier signal having a first carrier frequency with communication bandwidth, the second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency with communications bandwidth, the second carrier frequency being different from the first carrier frequency, a first amount of power being allocated by the first base station for transmitting the first carrier signal and a second amount of power being allocated by the first base station to transmit the second carrier signal, the first amount of power being less than the second amount of power, the second base station comprising: a wireless transmitter module for transmitting a third and a fourth carrier signal, the third carrier signal having the same carrier frequency as said first carrier signal, the fourth carrier signal have the same carrier frequency as said second carrier signal; and a power allocation module for allocating the transmission power to the third and fourth carrier signals to maintain a power difference between said third and fourth carrier signals, the transmission power allocated to the third carrier signal being greater than the transmission power allocated to the fourth carrier signal; and a bandwidth allocation module for allocating communications bandwidth of at least one of said third and fourth carrier signals to a wireless terminal as a function of information indicating whether the wireless terminal is in a non-boundary region, a first boundary region between said first and third carrier signals or a second boundary region between said second and fourth carrier signals; and wherein said bandwidth allocation module allocates communications bandwidth to a wireless terminal from the third carrier signal when said wireless terminal enters an intercell boundary region corresponding to said second and fourth carrier signals, said allocating causing an intercarrier handoff within said base station prior to said wireless terminal encountering an unacceptable level of signal interference when using said fourth carrier signal. 36. A method of operating a second base station in a second communications cell located adjacent a first communications cell in which a first base station transmits first and second carrier signals, the first carrier signal having a first carrier frequency with communication bandwidth, the second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency with communications bandwidth, the second carrier frequency being different from the first carrier frequency, a first amount of power being allocated by the first base station for transmitting the first carrier signal and a second amount of power being allocated by the first base station to transmit the second carrier signal, the first amount of power being less than the second amount of power, the method comprising: transmitting a third carrier signal; transmitting a fourth carrier signal, wherein the third carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said first carrier signal, and wherein the fourth carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said second carrier signal; and allocating transmission power to the third and fourth carrier signals to maintain a power difference between said third and fourth carrier signals, the transmission power allocated to the third carrier signal being greater than the transmission power allocated to the fourth carrier signal; and allocating communications bandwidth of at least one of said third and fourth carrier signals to a wireless terminal as a function of information indicating whether the wireless terminal is in a non-boundary region, a first boundary region between said first and third carrier signals or a second boundary region between said second and fourth carrier signals; and wherein said allocating communications bandwidth to a wireless terminal from the third carrier signal when said Wireless terminal enters an intercell boundary region corresponding to said second and fourth carrier signals, said allocating causing an intercarrier handoff within said base station prior to said wireless terminal encountering an unacceptable level of signal interference when using said fourth carrier signal. 37. A computer readable medium embodying machine executable instruction for controlling a second base station to implement a method, said second base station being in a second communications cell located adjacent a first communications cell in which a first base station transmits first and second carrier signals, the first carrier signal having a first carrier frequency with communication bandwidth, the second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency with communications bandwidth, the second carrier frequency being different from the first carrier frequency, a first amount of power being allocated by the first base station for transmitting the first carrier signal and a second amount of power being allocated by the first base station to transmit the second carrier signal, the first amount of power being less than the second amount of power, the method comprising: controlling transmission of a third carrier signal; controlling transmission of a fourth carrier signal, wherein the third carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said first carrier signal, and wherein the fourth carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said second carrier signal; and allocating transmission power to the third and fourth carrier signals to maintain a power difference between said third and fourth carrier signals, the transmission power allocated to the third carrier signal being greater than the transmission power allocated to the fourth carrier signal; allocating communications bandwidth of at least one of said third and fourth carrier signals to a wireless terminal as a function of information indicating whether the wireless terminal is in a non-boundary region, a first boundary region between said first and third carrier signals or a second boundary region between said second and fourth carrier signals; and wherein said allocating communications bandwidth of at least one of said third and fourth carrier signals to a wireless terminal as a function of information indicating whether the wireless terminal is in a non-boundary region includes allocating bandwidth from the third carrier signal when said wireless terminal enters an intercell boundary region corresponding to said second and fourth carrier signals, said allocating causing an intercarrier handoff within said base station prior to said wireless terminal encountering an unacceptable level of signal interference when using said fourth carrier signal. 38. An apparatus for use in a second base station, said second base station being in a second communications cell located adjacent a first communications cell in which a first base station transmits first and second carrier signals, the first carrier signal having a first carrier frequency with communication bandwidth, the second carrier signal having a second carrier frequency with communications bandwidth, the second carrier frequency being different from the first carrier frequency, a first amount of power being allocated by the first base station for transmitting the first carrier signal and a second amount of power being allocated by the first base station to transmit the second carrier signal, the first amount of power being less than the second amount of power, said apparatus comprising: a processor configured to: control transmission of a third carrier signal; control transmission of a fourth carrier signal, wherein the third carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said first carrier signal, and wherein the fourth carrier signal has the same carrier frequency as said second carrier signal; and allocate transmission power to the third and fourth carrier signals to maintain a power difference between said third and fourth carrier signals, the transmission power allocated to the third carrier signal being greater than the transmission power allocated to the fourth carrier signal; and allocate communications bandwidth of at least one of said third and fourth carrier signals to a wireless terminal as a function of information indicating whether the wireless terminal is in a non-boundary region, a first boundary region between said first and third carrier signals or a second boundary region between said second and fourth carrier signals; and wherein said allocating communications bandwidth of at least one of said third and fourth carrier signals to a wireless terminal as a function of information indicating whether the wireless terminal is in a non-boundary region includes allocating bandwidth from the third carrier signal when said wireless terminal enters an intercell boundary region corresponding to said second and fourth carrier signals, said allocating causing an intercarrier handoff within said base station prior to said wireless terminal encountering an unacceptable level of signal interference when using said fourth carrier signal. 39. A communications cell, comprising: a base station including: i) a first set of transmitter modules for transmitting a different first carrier signal into each of a first set of sectors of said cell, each of the different first carrier signals having a first carrier frequency which is the same; ii) a second set of transmitter modules for transmitting a different second carrier signal into each of a second set of sectors of said cell, each of the different second carrier signals having a second carrier frequency which is different from the first carrier frequency, said first and second sets of sectors overlapping but having sector boundaries which are offset from one another; and iii) a boundary area determination module for determining from information received from a wireless terminal whether said wireless terminal is located in a sector boundary area corresponding to the first carrier frequency, a sector boundary area corresponding to the second carrier frequency or a non-sector boundary area; and iv) a bandwidth allocation module for allocating communications bandwidth to said wireless terminal as a function of determined boundary area information, said bandwidth allocation module allocates communications bandwidth corresponding to one of said different second carrier signals when said wireless terminal is determined to be in a sector boundary area corresponding to the first carrier frequency. 40. A method of operating a base station comprising: transmitting a different first carrier signal into each of a first set of sectors of said cell, each of the different first carrier signals having a first carrier frequency which is the same; transmitting a different second carrier signal into each of a second set of sectors of said cell, each of the different second carrier signals having a second carrier frequency which is different from the first carrier frequency, said first and second sets of sectors overlapping but having sector boundaries which are offset from one another; determining from information received from a wireless terminal whether said wireless terminal is located in a sector boundary area corresponding to the first carrier frequency, a sector boundary area corresponding to the second carrier frequency or a non-sector boundary area; and allocating communications bandwidth to said wireless terminal as a function of determined boundary area information, said bandwidth allocation allocating communications bandwidth corresponding to one of said different second carrier signals when said wireless terminal is determined to be in a sector boundary area corresponding to the first carrier frequency. 41. A computer readable medium embodying machine readable instructions for implementing a method of operating a base station, the method comprising; controlling transmission of a different first carrier signal into each of a first set of sectors of said cell, each of the different first carrier signals having a first carrier frequency which is the same; controlling transmission of a different second carrier signal into each of a second set of sectors of said cell, each of the different second carrier signals having a second carrier frequency which is different from the first carrier frequency, said first and second sets of sectors overlapping but having sector boundaries which are offset from one another; determining from information received from a wireless terminal whether said wireless terminal is located in a sector boundary area corresponding to the first carrier frequency, a sector boundary area corresponding to the second carrier frequency or a non-sector boundary area; and allocating communications bandwidth to said wireless terminal as a function of determined boundary area information, said bandwidth allocation allocating communications bandwidth corresponding to one of said different second carrier signals when said wireless terminal is determined to be in a sector boundary area corresponding to the first carrier frequency. 42. An apparatus comprising: a processor configured to: control transmission of a different first carrier signal into each of a first set of sectors of said cell, each of the different first carrier signals having a first carrier frequency which is the same; control transmission of a different second carrier signal into each of a second set of sectors of said cell, each of the different second carrier signals having a second carrier frequency which is different from the first carrier frequency, said first and second sets of sectors overlapping but having sector boundaries which are offset from one another; determine from information received from a wireless terminal whether said wireless terminal is located in a sector boundary area corresponding to the first carrier frequency, a sector boundary area corresponding to the second carrier frequency or a non-sector boundary area; and allocate communications bandwidth to said wireless terminal as a function of determined boundary area information, said bandwidth allocation allocating communications bandwidth corresponding to one of said different second carrier signals when said wireless terminal is determined to be in a sector boundary area corresponding to the first carrier frequency.