WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS MULTIPLE MODES OF OPERATION

A wireless communications system is presented that adapts its mode of operation between spatial and non-spatial multiplexing in response to transmission-specific variables. Mode determination logic determines, in response to a received signal, if spatial or non-spatial multiplexing should be used to transmit a subscriber datastream between the BTS and the UE. The mode determination logic receives a measure of a transmission characteristic of the signal, compares the transmission characteristic to a transmission characteristic threshold and selects either spatial or non-spatial multiplexing in response to the comparison. The transmission characteristic includes at least one of delay spread, post-processing signal-to-noise ratio, CRC failure, residual inter-symbol interference, mean square error, coherence time, and path loss.