Patent ID: 6470192
Filing Date: 2002-10-22
Classification: H01Q,H04B,H04W

Abstract:
In a communications system for transmitting information symbols, a base station comprising:an antenna array for receiving an uplink radio signal, said antenna array including at least two antennas, wherein each antenna generates a received signal from said radio signal; a beamforming device for defining beams, using said received signals, which cover a cell supported by said base station; an estimating device for estimating parameters associated with said beams; a selection device for selecting at least two signal processing branches based on said estimated parameters, wherein the selection device selects a first number of signal processing branches based on one of the estimated parameters, and wherein the signal selection device then selects a smaller number of signal processing branches from the first number of signal processing branches based on another of the estimated parameters; a receiver for combining information provided by said at least two selected signal processing branches to generate detected information symbols, said receiver including an impairment correlation unit which estimates a correlation between impairment associated with one of said at least two selected signal processing branches and impairment associated with another of said at least two selected signal processing branches and which uses said correlation estimate to combine at least two said received signals; and a second antenna array for providing diversity reception, wherein said selection device selects a same number of branches associated with said antenna array and said second antenna array.