Derivation of eigenvectors for spatial processing in MIMO communication systems

In a wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, a method of deriving eigenvectors used for spatial processing, comprising:

• obtaining a plurality of sets of received symbols for a steered reference received via a first link and generated based on a plurality of steering vectors, wherein each of the plurality of sets of received symbols is for a steered reference symbol generated based on one of the plurality of steering vectors;
• determining a plurality of scaled vectors based on the plurality of sets of received symbols, wherein each of the plurality of scaled vectors corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of steering vectors;
• and
• deriving a plurality of eigenvectors based on the plurality of scaled vectors, wherein the plurality of eigenvectors are used for matched filtering of data transmission received via the first link.

An apparatus in a wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, comprising:

• a receive spatial processor operative to process a plurality of sets of received symbols for a steered reference to provide a plurality of scaled vectors, wherein the steered reference is received via a first link and generated based on a plurality of steering vectors, and wherein each of the plurality of scaled vectors corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of steering vectors;
• and
• a controller operative to derive a plurality of eigenvectors based on the plurality of scaled vectors, and
• wherein the receive spatial processor is further operative to perform matched filtering of a first data transmission received via the first link using the plurality of eigenvectors.