Multi-Sector Beamforming User Classification for Capacity

The patent segments users into two distinct groups: sector boundary users who receive cooperative beamforming from multiple sectors, and non-sector boundary users who receive conventional beamforming from their serving sector only. This segmentation allows the system to concentrate cooperative resources on boundary users while maintaining normal service for others, thereby supporting more total users while still achieving interference cancellation for the critical boundary users.

The patent applies different beamforming strategies to different user locations: multi-sector cooperative coherent beamforming is applied specifically to sector boundary users where interference cancellation is most needed, while conventional beamforming is used for non-boundary users. This localized application of advanced beamforming techniques optimizes system performance without the full overhead of universal cooperative transmission.

The patent dynamically selects between instantaneous channel information-based beamforming and statistical channel information-based beamforming for each user based on their speed and channel conditions. Fast-moving users experience channel mismatch and are served using statistical channel information, while slow-moving users are served using instantaneous channel information. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between spatial multiplexing gain and channel mismatch vulnerability.

The patent changes the beamforming parameter selection based on user speed: for fast users, it uses statistical channel information (long-term average) to form beams, while for slow users, it uses instantaneous channel information (real-time measurements). This parameter change allows the system to maintain beamforming gain for spatial multiplexing while avoiding the channel mismatch problem that plagues instantaneous schemes for mobile users.

The patent introduces dynamic user classification based on speed thresholds and channel conditions, automatically categorizing users into fast-moving or slow-moving groups. This dynamic classification enables the scheduler to apply appropriate beamforming strategies without complex manual intervention, maintaining ease of operation while significantly improving system capacity through optimal user combination selection.

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where user speed and channel quality information are continuously monitored and used to adjust beamforming strategy selection. This feedback loop allows the system to adaptively optimize user combinations for multi-sector cooperative transmission, improving system capacity while keeping the scheduling process automated and relatively simple through rule-based decision making.