Method and apparatus for transmitting signals in a communication system

Abstract

Different orthogonal codes (W.sub.x, W.sub.y) are used to spread common pilot channels (Pilot.sub.A) intended for transmission to a particular mobile station (106) within a coverage area (sector A) to implement forward link transmit diversity. By implementing separate, different orthogonal codes (W.sub.x, W.sub.y) for each pilot channel (Pilot.sub.A), the pilot signals transmitted via antennas (218, 222) to a common coverage area (sector A) are orthogonal to one another and thus do not degrade system performance. Additionally, the use of different orthogonal codes (W.sub.x, W.sub.y) for each pilot channel (Pilot.sub.A) allows the mobile station (106) to discern which pilot channel spread with a different orthogonal code includes corresponding traffic channel (TCH) information. This allows forward link transmit diversity to be enable/disabled based on conditions associated with the environment, the communications channel, etc. without a complete loss of information as seen by the mobile station (106).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.