Patent ID: 6907271

Claim:
A wireless communications system comprising: at least four beam formers arranged within a cellular communications network, said beam formers including a first beam former for transmitting a first beam (B 1 ) into a first area and a second beam former for transmitting a second beam (B 2 ) into a second beam area, where said second beam area is adjacent said first beam area, and a third beam former for transmitting a third beam (B 3 ) into a third beam area and a fourth beam former for transmitting a fourth beam (B 4 ) into a fourth beam area, where said fourth beam area is adjacent said third beam area; a mobile switching center for controlling signals transmitted from said at least four beam formers, including sending coded signals along said beams B 1 , B 2 , B 3 and B 4 such that: each of said first, second, third and fourth beam areas are effectively divided into at least two sub-areas such that said first beam area includes sub-areas G 1 1 and G 2 1 , said second beam area includes sub-areas G 1 2 and G 2 2 , said third beam area includes sub-areas G 1 3 and G 2 3 , and said fourth beam area includes sub-areas G 1 4 and G 2 4 ; and wherein during a first time period (T 1 ), simultaneous transmissions are made for receipt by mobile units located within sub-areas G 1 1 , G 1 2 , G 1 3 and G 1 4 ; during a second time period (T 2 ), transmissions are made for receipt by mobile units located within sub-areas G 2 1 and G 2 4 ; and during a third time period (T 3 ), transmissions are made for receipt by mobile units located within sub-areas G 2 2 and G 2 3 .