Method and apparatus for using switched multibeam antennas in a multiple access communication system

In a communication system comprising a switched beam antenna system that generates a plurality of predetermined, fixed beams, a base station subsystem comprising:

• an antenna array comprising a plurality of array elements;
• a processor that comprises an orthogonal code generator that generates a plurality of orthogonal codes, wherein the plurality of orthogonal codes are allocated to a shared communication channel, wherein the processor allocates a first portion of the plurality of orthogonal codes to a first array element of the plurality of array elements and allocates a second portion of the plurality of orthogonal codes to a second array element of the plurality of plurality of array elements, wherein the processor allocates the plurality of orthogonal codes to the first and second array elements based on a propagation channel quality measurement associated with a first beam of the plurality of fixed beams and a propagation channel quality measurement associated with a second beam of the plurality of fixed beams, and wherein each of the first portion of the plurality of orthogonal codes and the second portion of the plurality of orthogonal codes are transmitted via one or more array elements of the plurality of array elements.