Dynamic assignment of MIMO modes for a wireless communication device

1. A method of operating a wireless access node to facilitate dynamic assignment of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) modes, the method comprising:

receiving a scattering coefficient transmitted from a wireless communication device served by the wireless access node;

comparing the scattering coefficient to a scattering threshold;

if the scattering coefficient exceeds the scattering threshold, selecting a lower order MIMO mode comprising a one by one MIMO mode for the wireless communication device; and

assigning the lower order MIMO mode to the wireless communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, if the scattering coefficient falls below the scattering threshold, selecting a MIMO mode for the wireless communication device based on a channel quality indicator.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the scattering coefficient represents a degree of scattering present at a location of the wireless communication device.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a new scattering coefficient transmitted from the wireless communication device, and if the new scattering coefficient falls below the scattering threshold, assigning a higher order MIMO mode to the wireless communication device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the higher order MIMO mode comprises a four by four MIMO mode.

6. A wireless access node to facilitate dynamic assignment of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) modes, the wireless access node comprising:

a wireless communication transceiver configured to receive a scattering coefficient transmitted from a wireless communication device served by the wireless access node; and

a processing system configured to compare the scattering coefficient to a scattering threshold, and if the scattering coefficient exceeds the scattering threshold, select a lower order MIMO mode comprising a one by one MIMO mode for the wireless communication device and assign the lower order MIMO mode to the wireless communication device.

7. The wireless access node of claim 6 wherein the processing system is further configured to, if the scattering coefficient falls below the scattering threshold, select a MIMO mode for the wireless communication device based on a channel quality indicator.

8. The wireless access node of claim 6 wherein the scattering coefficient represents a degree of scattering present at a location of the wireless communication device.

9. The wireless access node of claim 6 wherein the wireless communication transceiver is further configured to receive a new scattering coefficient transmitted from the wireless communication device, and wherein the processing system is further configured to, if the new scattering coefficient falls below the scattering threshold, assign a higher order MIMO mode to the wireless communication device.

10. The wireless access node of claim 9 wherein the higher order MIMO mode comprises a four by four MIMO mode.

11. A computer apparatus to facilitate dynamic assignment of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) modes, the apparatus comprising:

software instructions configured, when executed by a wireless access node, to direct the wireless access node to receive a scattering coefficient transmitted from a wireless communication device served by the wireless access node, compare the scattering coefficient to a scattering threshold, and if the scattering coefficient exceeds the scattering threshold, select a lower order MIMO mode comprising a one by one MIMO mode for the wireless communication device and assign the lower order MIMO mode to the wireless communication device; and

at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing the software instructions.

12. The computer apparatus of claim 11 further comprising the software instructions configured to direct the wireless access node to, if the scattering coefficient falls below the scattering threshold, select a MIMO mode for the wireless communication device based on a channel quality indicator.

13. The computer apparatus of claim 11 wherein the scattering coefficient represents a degree of scattering present at a location of the wireless communication device.

14. The computer apparatus of claim 11 further comprising the software instructions configured to direct the wireless access node to receive a new scattering coefficient transmitted from the wireless communication device, and if the new scattering coefficient falls below the scattering threshold, assign a higher order MIMO mode to the wireless communication device.