Abstract: Apparatus for iterative decoding of a sequence of signal packets coded in accordance with a multi-component coding scheme. The apparatus includes a plurality of decoders, each of which performs a respective different decoding method on one of the signal packets, such that the plurality of decoders operate substantially concurrently.

Abstract: A communication network having a plurality of subscriber units receive a finite resource from a common node is disclosed. Individual subscriber units may seize the finite resource of the common node to the exclusion of all other subscriber units in the network. A scheduler allocates the finite resource to the individual subscriber units based upon a weight associated with the individual subscriber units. The scheduler determines the weight for each of the subscriber units based upon an instantaneous rate of consuming the finite resource.

Abstract: A communication network having a plurality of subscriber units that receive a finite resource from a common node is disclosed. Individual subscriber units may seize the finite resource of the common node to the exclusion of all other subscriber units in the network. A scheduler allocates the finite resource to the individual subscriber units based upon a weight associated with the individual subscriber units. The scheduler determines the weight for each of the subscriber units based upon an instantaneous rate of consuming the finite resource.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a data rate associated with the transmission of information from a base station to a mobile station in a mobile radio communication system. The mobile station alternately receives information from a base station either in a variable rate mode or a fixed rate mode. The transmission rate from a base station in the variable rate mode varies between successive data transmit intervals, and the transmission rate from a base station in the fixed rate mode remains fixed between successive data transmit intervals. Data is transmitted from a first base station to the mobile station in the variable rate mode until the first base station is unable to receive variable data rate control information from the mobile station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a data rate associated with the transmission of information from a base station to a mobile station in a mobile radio communication system. The mobile station alternately receives information from a base station either in a variable rate mode or a fixed rate mode. The transmission rate from a base station in the variable rate mode varies between successive data transmit intervals, and the transmission rate from a base station in the fixed rate mode remains fixed between successive data transmit intervals. Data is transmitted from a first base station to the mobile station in the variable rate mode until the first base station is unable to receive variable data rate control information from the mobile station.

Abstract: A method for assigning optimal packet lengths in a variable rate communication system capable of data transmission at one of a plurality of data rates. The packet lengths for the data rates are selected such that the maximum throughput rate is achieved while conforming to a fairness criteria. The fairness criteria can be achieved by restricting the packet length assigned to each data rate to a range of value, or L.sub.i.sup.min .ltoreq.L.sub.i .ltoreq.L.sub.i.sup.max. The packet lengths for all data rates are first initialized to the maximum packet lengths for those data rates. Then, for each data rate, a determination is made whether another packet length assignment would result in improved throughput rate. If the answer is yes, the packet length for this data rate is reassigned and the throughput rate with the updated packet length assignments is recomputed. The process is repeated for each data rate until all data rates have been considered.

Abstract: A soft decision output decoder and decoding method. The decoder decodes a sequence of signals output by an encoder and transmitted over a channel. The soft decision output decoder includes a first "generalized" Viterbi decoder for decoding the sequence of signals received over the channel during a forward iteration through a trellis representing the encoder output having a block length T. The first "generalized" Viterbi decoder begins at an initial state t.sub.0 and provides a plurality of forward iteration state metrics .alpha. for each state at each time interval over a window of length 2L, where L is on the order of a few constraint lengths and 2L is less than a block length T. A second "generalized" Viterbi decoder decodes the sequence of signals received over the channel during a backward iteration through the trellis. The second decoder starts at a second time t2L and provides a plurality of backward iteration state metrics .beta. for each state at each time interval.