System and method for spatial-multiplexed tropospheric scatter communications

1. A method comprising:

using tropospheric scatter to transmit a training signal from each antenna of a base station to each of a plurality of client devices, each of the client devices analyzing each training signal to generate channel characterization data, and transmitting the channel characterization data back to the base station;

storing the channel characterization data for each of the plurality of client devices;

receiving data to be transmitted to each of the client devices; and

precoding the data using the channel characterization data associated with each respective client device to generate precoded data signals for each antenna of the base station; and

using tropospheric scatter to transmit the precoded data signals through each antenna of the base station to each respective client device.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein precoding the data further comprises mapping each of a plurality of data streams to a particular antenna on the base station.

3. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

polarizing signals from one or more of the antennas of the base station to improve signal diversity.

4. The method as in claim 1 wherein the data is precoded and transmitted using multiple-input multiple-output (“MIMO”) signal communication techniques.

5. The method as in claim 1 wherein the data is precoded and transmitted using distributed-input distributed-output (“DIDO”) signal communication techniques.

6. The method as in claim 1 wherein the antennas are directional antennas configured to direct signals into the troposphere.

7. The method as in claim 1 wherein the channel state information is stored as a matrix H comprised of separate components measured for each antenna.

8. The method as in claim 1 wherein the data to be precoded and transmitted is received over a data network in response to a client request.

9. A troposcatter communication system comprising:

a network link to receive a data stream over a network, the data stream to be transmitted wirelessly in response to a client request;

a tropospheric scatter base station having a plurality of antennas, the tropospheric scatter base station to:

transmit a training signal from each antenna to each of a plurality of client devices, each of the client devices analyzing each training signal to generate channel characterization data, and transmitting the channel characterization data back to the base station;

store the channel characterization data for each of the plurality of client devices;

receive data to be transmitted to each of the client devices; and

precode the data using the channel characterization data associated with each respective client device to generate precoded data signals for each antenna of the base station; and

transmit the precoded data signals through each antenna of the base station to each respective client device.

10. The system as in claim 9 wherein precoding the data further comprises mapping each of a plurality of data streams to a particular antenna on the base station.

11. The system as in claim 9 further comprising:

polarizing signals from one or more of the antennas of the base station to improve signal diversity.

12. The system as in claim 9 wherein the data is precoded and transmitted using multiple-input multiple-output (“MIMO”) signal communication techniques.

13. The system as in claim 9 wherein the data is precoded and transmitted using distributed-input distributed-output (“DIDO”) signal communication techniques.

14. The system as in claim 9 wherein the antennas are directional antennas configured to direct signals into the troposphere.

15. The system as in claim 9 wherein the channel state information is stored as a matrix H comprised of separate components measured for each transmit antenna.

16. The system as in claim 9 wherein the data to be precoded and transmitted is received over a data network in response to a client request.