System for MIMO spatial adaptivity in dynamic environments

An adaptive wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system switches among two or more modes of operation including Uninformed Transmitter (UT) and Informed Transmitter (IT) modes based on channel conditions as reflected in a set of metrics including a temporal selectivity metric (TSM) indicative of the temporal dynamics of the MIMO channel. In an exemplary embodiment, the adaptive MIMO system uses a dominant eigenmode IT mode of operation if a signal-to-noise ratio is below a threshold, otherwise, the system uses an IT mode or a UT mode based on the TSM. If the TSM indicates a channel that is changing too rapidly for feedback to be effective, the UT mode is used, otherwise the IT mode is used. Overall system capacity in time varying MIMO channels is thereby improved.