Spatial multiplexing in a cellular network

摘要

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for implementing spatial multiplexing in conjunction with the one or more multiple access protocols during the broadcast of information in a wireless network. A subscriber unit for use in a cellular system is disclosed. The subscriber unit includes: spatially separate receivers, a spatial processor, and a combiner. The spatially separate receivers receive the assigned channel composite signals resulting from the spatially separate transmission of the subscriber downlink datastream(s). The spatial processor is configurable in response to a control signal transmitted by the base station to separate the composite signals into estimated substreams based on information obtained during the transmission of known data patterns from at least one of the base stations. The spatial processor signals the base stations when a change of a spatial transmission configuration is required. The combiner combines the estimated substreams into a corresponding subscriber datastream.

主权项

1. A wireless remote unit comprising:
a plurality of spatially separate antennas; a transmitter for transmitting a plurality of substreams of a datastream on an assigned channel of a multiple access protocol, to a station of a wireless network by applying each substream to an associated one of the spatially separate antennas; a receiver to receive a mode signal from the station; and a parser of the transmitter for alternately parsing the datastream into a variable number of substreams and avoiding parsing of each datastream in response to the mode signal.