Multi-beam antenna system for high speed data

A method of reducing cross-beam interference in a multi-beam antenna system wherein a base station transmits data to users within a transmission sector, the method comprising:

• dividing the transmission sector geographically into two geographically adjacent user-group areas;
• and
• wherein data is transmitted from the base station to the two geographically adjacent user-group areas by transmitting data in two alternating sets of time slots, a first time slot of the two alternating sets of time slots being used by the base station to transmit data to a first user-group area of the two geographically adjacent user-group areas and a second time slot of the two alternating sets of time slots being used to transmit data to a second user-group area of the two geographically adjacent user-group areas, and
• wherein the two alternating sets of time slots do not overlap temporally.

A method of operating a user terminal within a wireless communication system to receive transmissions of data, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of pilot signals from a base station, wherein each pilot signal corresponds to a geographically distinct user-group area;
• determining a plurality of channel quality indications, wherein each channel quality indication corresponds to a pilot signal;
• reporting at least one channel quality indication to the base station;
• and
• receiving one of a plurality of temporally synchronized transmissions of data from the base station, wherein the plurality of temporally synchronized transmissions of data correspond to a respective plurality of geographically distinct user-group areas, wherein the base station does not transmit data at the same time to two geographically adjacent user-group areas.

A base station that transmits data to a plurality of user terminals within a transmission area, the base station comprising:

• an antenna;
• a Radio Frequency unit coupled to the antenna;
• and
• at least one digital processor coupled to the Radio Frequency unit that executes software instructions causing the base station to:
• divide the transmission area geographically into a plurality of user-group areas;
• and
• temporally synchronize transmissions of data 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.

A base station that transmits data to a plurality of user terminals within a transmission area, the base station comprising:

• an antenna;
• a Radio Frequency unit coupled to the antenna;
• and
• at least one digital processor coupled to the Radio Frequency unit that executes software instructions causing the base station to:
• divide the transmission sector geographically into two geographically adjacent user-group areas;
• and
• transmit data to the two geographically adjacent user-group areas by transmitting data in two alternating sets of time slots, a first time slot of the two alternating sets of time slots being used by the base station to transmit data to a first user-group area of the two geographically adjacent user-group areas and a second time slot of the two alternating sets of time slots being used to transmit data to a second user-group area of the two geographically adjacent user-group areas, and
• wherein the two alternating sets of time slots do not overlap temporally.

A plurality of software instructions stored on a media that, upon execution by a base station, cause the base station to transmit data to a plurality of user terminals within a transmission area, the plurality of software instructions comprising:

• a set of instructions executed by the base station that cause the base station to divide the transmission sector geographically into two geographically adjacent user-group areas;
• and
• a set of instructions executed by the base station that cause the base station to transmit data to the two geographically adjacent user-group areas by transmitting data in two alternating sets of time slots, a first time slot of the two alternating sets of time slots being used by the base station to transmit data to a first user-group area of the two geographically adjacent user-group areas and a second time slot of the two alternating sets of time slots being used to transmit data to a second user-group area of the two geographically adjacent user-group areas, and
• wherein the two alternating sets of time slots do not overlap temporally.

A user terminal that acts as a wireless receiver to wirelessly receive a data packet from a base station acting as a transmitter, the user terminal comprising:

• an antenna;
• a Radio Frequency unit coupled to the antenna;
• and
• a digital processor coupled to the Radio Frequency unit that executes software instructions causing the user terminal to:
• receive a plurality of pilot signals from a base station, wherein each pilot signal corresponds to a geographically distinct user-group area;
• determine a plurality of channel quality indications, wherein each channel quality indication corresponds to a pilot signal;
• report at least one channel quality indication to the base station;
• and
• receive one of a plurality of temporally synchronized transmissions of data from the base station, wherein the plurality of temporally synchronized transmissions of data correspond to a respective plurality of geographically distinct user-group areas, wherein the base station does not transmit data at the same time to two geographically adjacent user-group areas.

A plurality of software instructions stored on a media that, upon execution by a user terminal, causes the user terminal to receive transmissions of data, the plurality of software instructions comprising:

• a set of instructions executed by the user terminal that cause the user terminal to receive a plurality of pilot signals from a base station, wherein each pilot signal corresponds to a geographically distinct user-group area;
• a set of instructions executed by the user terminal that cause the user terminal to determine a plurality of channel quality indications, wherein each channel quality indication corresponds to a pilot signal;
• a set of instructions executed by the user terminal that cause the user terminal to report at least one channel quality indication to the base station;
• and
• a set of instructions executed by the user terminal that cause the user terminal to receive one of a plurality of temporally synchronized transmissions of data from the base station, wherein the plurality of temporally synchronized transmissions of data correspond to a respective plurality of geographically distinct user-group areas, wherein the base station does not transmit data at the same time to two geographically adjacent user-group areas.

A method of operating a user terminal within a wireless communication system to calculate forward link channel qualities, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of pilot signals;
• measuring the strength of each of the plurality of pilot signals;
• segregating the plurality of pilot signals into a first plurality of pilot signals corresponding to forward traffic channels that transmit during first time intervals and a second plurality of pilot signals corresponding to forward traffic channels that transmit during second time intervals, wherein the first time intervals do not overlap with the second time intervals;
• for each pilot signal of the first plurality of pilot signals determining a corresponding forward link channel quality based only upon measured strengths of the first plurality of pilot signals;
• and
• for each pilot signal of the second plurality of pilot signals, determining a corresponding forward link channel quality based only upon measured strengths of the second plurality of pilot signals.