Patent ID: 7782755

Claim:
In a wireless communication system employing uplink (UL) spatial division multiple access (SDMA), a method comprising: computing a plurality of pairing metric values, which corresponds to a plurality of possible assignments of paired signal combinations to respective orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) channel resource sets for UL collaborative SDMA, wherein individual signals are paired together for transmission scheduling based on clear spatial distinctions and minimum correlation, further wherein the plurality of pairing metrics values are computed for a plurality of sets of paired signal combinations; determining a final set of compatible assignments of exclusive paired signal combinations from the plurality of possible assignments based on pre-established criteria including one or more of: (1) a relative value of the pairing metric values; and (2) a set of priority requirements; allocating the final set of compatible assignments for transmission of the paired signal combinations utilizing the respective OFDM resource sets, wherein paired signal combinations that are not within the final set are not utilized; and receiving a plurality of signals transmitted from two or more user devices, wherein said signals are received in the paired signal combinations over the respective assigned channel resource sets.