System and method for combining mimo and mode-division multiplexing

A method for communication, comprising:

• receiving a plurality of data streams at a maximum ratio combining (MRC) circuit;
• processing the plurality of input data streams using maximum ration combining to improve signal to noise ratio using the maximum ratio combining (MRC) circuit;
• and
• transmitting the MRC processed plurality of data streams over a plurality of separate communications links from a MIMO transmitter, each of the plurality of separate communications links from one transmitting antenna of a plurality of transmitting antennas to each of a plurality of receiving antennas at a MIMO receiver, wherein the MIMO transmitter transmits the MRC processed plurality of data streams using a channel matrix of an impulse response of a channel, the channel matrix created using a pilot signal transmitted on a pilot channel.

A method, comprising:

• receiving a plurality of input data streams at mode division multiplexing circuitry;
• and
• generating a first group of the plurality of input data streams having a first group of orthogonal functions applied thereto and a second group of the plurality of input data streams having a second group of orthogonal functions applied thereto onto a mode division multiplexed carrier signal;
• receiving the mode division multiplexed carrier signal at a maximum ratio combining (MRC) circuit;
• processing the mode division multiplexed carrier signal using maximum ration combining to improve signal to noise ratio at the MRC circuit;
• transmitting the MRC processed mode division multiplexed carrier signal from a MIMO transmitter over a plurality of separate communications links from the MIMO transmitter, each of the plurality of separate communications links from one transmitting antenna of a plurality of transmitting antennas to each of a plurality of receiving antennas at a MIMO receiver;
• and
• wherein the MIMO transmitter transmits the MRC processed mode division multiplexed carrier signal including the first and the second groups of the plurality of input data streams using a channel matrix of an impulse response of a channel, the channel matrix is created using a pilot signal transmitted on a pilot channel.