Method for Decentralized Assignment of Frequency Band to Base Stations

1 - 8 . (canceled)

9 . A method for operating a radio communication system having network-side and subscriber-side radio stations and using a frequency band for communication to a subset of the network-side radio stations in time slots, comprising:

sending messages by the network-side radio stations, respectively, containing a number having a value which depends on a radio traffic range expected by at least one network-side radio station for a defined time slot; and

coordinating the network-side radio stations with one another based on the messages, to determine to which of the network-side radio stations the frequency band is available in the defined time slot.

10 . The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said coordinating makes the frequency band available to at least one non-neighboring network-side radio station in the defined time slot.

11 . The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the number is a random number with a probability density dependent on the radio traffic range expected by a respective network-side radio station for the defined time slot.

12 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the frequency band is available to one of the network-side radio stations in the defined time slot, if the one of the network-side radio stations emits a higher number than all neighboring network-side radio stations.

13 . The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said sending of the messages is between the network-side radio stations on at least one of the frequency band, a different frequency band, and via a land line.

14 . The method as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising the one of the network-side radio stations, to which the frequency band is available in the defined time slot, communicating with at least one subscriber-side radio station and/or with at least one other network-side radio station on the frequency band during the defined time slot.

15 . A network-side radio station in a radio communication system having other network-side radio stations and subscriber-side radio stations, where a frequency band used for communication in the radio communication system is available for communication with a subset of the network-side radio stations in time slots, respectively, comprising:

means for creating and sending a message containing a number having value depending on a radio traffic range expected by said network-side radio station for the defined time slot; and

means for coordinating with at least some of the other network-side radio stations to determine a selected network-side radio station for which the frequency band is available in a defined time slot.

16 . A computer-readable medium encoded with a program that when executed by a processor controls a network-side radio station in a radio communication system having other network-side radio stations and subscriber-side radio stations, where a frequency band used for communication in the radio communication system is available for communication with a subset of the network-side radio stations in time slots, respectively, to perform a method comprising:

sending messages by the network-side radio stations, respectively, containing a number having a value which depends on a radio traffic range expected by at least one network-side radio station for a defined time slot; and

coordinating the network-side radio stations with one another based on the messages, to determine to which of the network-side radio stations the frequency band is available in the defined time slot.