Method and apparatus for separting multiple users in a shared-channel communication system

A machine-readable medium having stored thereon a set of machine-executable instructions, that, when executed by a machine, cause said machine to perform a method comprising:

• a communication device causing an offset within a spatial channel between a first uplink transmission to said communication device by a first remote user terminal and a second uplink transmission to said communication device by a second remote user terminal, wherein said first and second uplink transmissions at least partially overlap in a spatial channel, such that both the first and second uplink transmissions lie within an allowable tolerance of said channel;
• and
• said communication device distinguishing, based on said offset, between said first uplink signal and said second uplink signal.

An apparatus for distinguishing between the uplink transmissions of two or more remote user terminals simultaneously occupying a transmission channel, the apparatus comprising:

• a first means for causing a first remote user terminal to adjust transmission of a first uplink signal transmitted by said first remote user terminal by an offset within a spatial transmission channel relative to a second uplink signal transmitted by a second remote user terminal, said first and second uplink signals occupying the spatial transmission channel;
• and
• a second means for distinguishing between said first and second uplink signal based on said offset.

An apparatus for separating the uplink transmissions of two or more remote user terminals simultaneously occupying a transmission channel, the apparatus comprising:

• a first means for causing a first remote user terminal to adjust transmission of a first uplink signal transmitted by said first remote user terminal by an offset within a spatial transmission channel relative to a second uplink signal transmitted by a second remote user terminal, said first and second uplink signals occupying the spatial transmission channel;
• and
• a second means for separating said first and second uplink signal based on said offset.

In a communication system employing spatial transmission channels, a method for distinguishing between the uplink transmissions of two or more remote user terminals utilizing the spatial transmission channels, said method comprising:

• a base station causing an offset within a spatial transmission channel between a first uplink transmission and a second uplink transmission of a first and second remote user terminal, respectively;
• and
• said base station, based on the offset, causing the first and second uplink signals to be distinguishable relative to each other.

In a communication system employing spatial transmission channels, a method for separating the uplink transmissions of two or more remote user terminals utilizing the spatial transmission channels, said method comprising:

• a base station causing an offset within a spatial transmission channel between a first uplink transmission and a second uplink transmission of a first and second remote user terminal, respectively;
• and
• said base station, based on the offset, causing the first and second uplink signals to be separable from each other.