Patent ID: 6804521
Filing Date: 2004-10-12
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
In a cellular wireless communication system, a method of transmitting data from a base station to a plurality of user terminals within a sector serviced by the base station, the method comprising:dividing the sector geographically into a plurality of user-group areas, wherein each user-group area is serviced via a respective port of a beam forming antenna of the base station; for each user-group area, transmitting a uniquely identifiable pilot signal via a respective port of the beam forming antenna of the base station; receiving indications of received pilot signal strengths from at least some of the plurality of user terminals; based noon the received indications of received pilot signal strengths from the plurality of user terminals assigning each reporting user terminal to a respective user-group area; and temporally synchronizing transmissions of darn from to base station to the plurality of user-group areas such that the base station does not transmit data at the same time to two geographically adjacent user-group areas.