System and methods for non-orthogonal multiple access

A resource allocation unit for a communication system, the resource allocation unit comprising:

• a processor coupled with a transport medium in operable communication with first and second user devices, the processor configured to allocate resources of a communication channel of the communication network with respect to a transmission time dimension, a transmission frequency dimension, and transmission coding scheme to the first and second user devices;
• and
• a memory device for storing computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• assign (i) a first frequency spectrum of the communication channel and a first timing to the first user device, and (ii) a second frequency spectrum of the communication channel and a second timing to the second user device;
• obtain channel information of the first and second user devices;
• and
• allocate, based on the obtained channel information, (i) a first resource block of the communication channel to the first user device at the first frequency spectrum and the first timing, the first resource block being allocated at a first coding scheme, and (ii) a second resource block of the communication channel to the second user device at the second frequency spectrum and the second timing, the second resource block being allocated at a second coding scheme different from the first coding scheme,
• wherein at least one of (i) a portion of the first frequency spectrum overlaps with a portion of the second frequency spectrum, and (ii) a portion of the first timing overlaps with a portion of the second timing.