Method and apparatus for candidate list generation for uplink v-mimo

An apparatus for use in a communication system, the communication system including a plurality of mobile stations, the apparatus comprising:

• a transceiver operable to receive at least one downlink metric for a first mobile station;
• and
• a candidate list generator electrically connected to the transceiver, the candidate list generator operable to:
• use the at least one downlink metric to determine eligibility for uplink virtual multiple-in multiple-out (“V-MIMO”) candidate list selection;
• and
• responsive to determining the first mobile station is eligible for uplink V-MIMO candidate list selection, pair the first mobile station with a second mobile station eligible for uplink V-MIMO candidate list selection.

A communication system employing virtual multiple-input multiple output (“V-MIMO”), the communication system comprising:

• a plurality of mobile stations;
• and
• at least one base station in communication with at least a portion of the plurality of mobile stations, the at least one base station operable to:
• determine at least one downlink metric for a first mobile station;
• use the at least one downlink metric to determine eligibility for uplink V-MIMO candidate list selection;
• and
• responsive to determining the first mobile station is eligible for uplink V-MIMO candidate list selection, pair the first mobile station with a second mobile station eligible for uplink V-MIMO candidate list selection.