Simple inter-cell coordination schemes for a high speed CDMA packet downlink

We consider a CDMA cellular downlink that uses variable spreading gain to achieve different data rates for users based on their received SINRs. Such schemes are highly efficient, but are not "fair" in that there is great inequality of the data rates achieved by various users. We investigate several forms of inter-cell coordination as a means to improve the fairness, while minimally reducing the overall system throughput. One type of coordination uses predetermined "off" periods with reduced other-cell interference, and another type uses scheduled soft handoff periods.