Abstract: The present invention relates to soft handoffs in an OFDM system. Each mobile terminal measures pilot signal strengths of transmissions from adjacent base stations. If the pilot signal strength for a base station exceeds the defined threshold, that base station is added to an active set list. Each mobile terminal notifies the base stations of their active set lists. By providing the set list to the base station controller and the servicing base station, the mobile terminal identifies the sole servicing base station or triggers a soft handoff mode when multiple base stations appear on the active set list. The soft handoff mode uses a combination of scheduling and space-time coding to affect efficient and reliable handoffs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving channel estimation within an OFDM communication system. Channel estimation in OFDM is usually performed with the aid of pilot symbols. The pilot symbols are typically spaced in time and frequency. The set of frequencies and times at which pilot symbols are inserted is referred to as a pilot pattern. In some cases, the pilot pattern is a diagonal-shaped lattice, either regular or irregular. The method first interpolates in the direction of larger coherence (time or frequency). Using these measurements, the density of pilot symbols in the direction of faster change will be increased thereby improving channel estimation without increasing overhead. As such, the results of the first interpolating step can then be used to assist the interpolation in the dimension of smaller coherence (time or frequency).

Abstract: A method and system are provided for scheduling data transmission in a Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) system. The MIMO system may comprise at least one MIMO transmitter and at least one MIMO receiver. Feedback from one or more receivers may be used by a transmitter to improve quality, capacity, and scheduling in MIMO communication systems. The method may include generating or receiving information pertaining to a MIMO channel metric and information pertaining to a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) in respect of a transmitted signal; and sending a next transmission to a receiver using a MIMO mode selected in accordance with the information pertaining to the MIMO channel metric, and an adaptive coding and modulation selected in accordance with the information pertaining to the CQI.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for scheduling data transmission in a Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) system. The MIMO system may comprise at least one MIMO transmitter and at least one MIMO receiver. Feedback from one or more receivers may be used by a transmitter to improve quality, capacity, and scheduling in MIMO communication systems. The method may include generating or receiving information pertaining to a MIMO channel metric and information pertaining to a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) in respect of a transmitted signal; and sending a next transmission to a receiver using a MIMO mode selected in accordance with the information pertaining to the MIMO channel metric, and an adaptive coding and modulation selected in accordance with the information pertaining to the CQI.

Abstract: The description herein relates to pilot designs for an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) based communication system. In at least one embodiment, the communication system is one operating according to the IEEE 802.16m, or WiMax, standard. In general, an OFDM transmitter operates to insert pilot symbols into a resource of a transmit frame according to a predetermined staggered pilot symbol pattern defining pilot symbol locations within the resource of the transmit frame. The predetermined pilot symbol pattern is defined such that pilot symbols are located at or near time boundaries of the resource, at or near frequency boundaries of the resource, or both. By doing so, when generating a channel estimate for the communication channel between the OFDM transmitter and an OFDM receiver based on the pilot symbols, extrapolations needed to estimate the channel near the boundaries of the resource are optimized, thereby improving overall channel estimation accuracy.

Abstract: A codebook C is provided in a MIMO transmitter as well as a MIMO receiver. The codebook C will include M codewords ci, where i is a unique codeword index for each codeword ci. Each codeword defines weighting factors to apply to the MIMO signals, and may correspond to channel matrices or vectors to apply to the MIMO signals prior to transmission from the respective antennas of the MIMO transmitter. The present invention creates codeword subsets Sl for each codeword cl of the codebook C. Each codeword subset Sl defines L codewords cj, which are selected from all the codewords ci in the codebook C. The codewords cj in a codeword subset Sl are the L codewords in the entire codebook that best correlate with the corresponding codeword ci.

Abstract: There is provided a method of encoding and decoding data using an error control code having a codebook G. The codebook G is a sub-codebook of a codebook P. Each codeword g in the sub-codebook G has an autocorrelation amplitude that is different from and higher than each correlation amplitude between g and each of the other codewords in the sub-codebook G. In one specific embodiment in which the codebook P is that of a Reed-Muller code, using G instead of P reduces the likelihood of the presence of more than one maximum correlation amplitude when computing the non-coherent decision metric during decoding.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring channel quality over which has been transmitted a sequence of symbols produced by encoding and constellation mapping a source data element sequence. A sequence of received symbols is received over the channel. The sequence of received symbols is de-mapped based on a first channel quality indicator previously transmitted to a transmitter of the sequence of symbols. The de-mapped symbols are decoded to produce a decoded output sequence. In some embodiments, the decoding may be based on the first channel quality indicator. The decoded output sequence is re-encoded to produce a re-encoded output sequence. The de-mapped symbols are correlated with the re-encoded output sequence to produce a second channel quality indicator. The second channel quality indicator is transmitted to the transmitter to adaptively select a type of mapping based on the second channel quality indicator.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for MIMO OFDM transmitter and receivers having odd and/even numbers of transmit antennas. Various methods for pre-coding information bits before space time coding (STC) are described for enabling transmission of information bits over all antennas. Methods of decoding received signals that have been pre-coded and STC coded are also provided by embodiments of the invention. Pilot patterns for downlink and uplink transmission between a base station and one or more wireless terminals for three transmit antenna transmitters are also provided. Variable rate codes are provided that combine various fixed rate codes in a manner that results in codes whose rates are dependent on all the various fixed rate codes that are combined.

Abstract: To effectively and efficiently provide control information, a broadcast pointer channel (BPCH) may be used to identify the type and perhaps relative location of control information that is being provided in a given frame structure, such as a sub-frame, frame, or superframe. A sub-frame (or like framing entity, such a frame or superframe) may have a BPCH and a corresponding system control information segment in which control information may reside. The system control information segment may have any number of control information blocks, wherein each control information block that is present may correspond to a particular type of control information. The BPCH is used to identify the type of control information that is present in a corresponding system control information segment, and if needed or desired, the relative locations of the various control information.

Abstract: The description herein relates to pilot designs for an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) based communication system. In the preferred embodiment, the communication system is one operating according to the IEEE 802.16m, or WiMax, standard. In general, an OFDM transmitter operates to insert pilot symbols into a resource of a transmit frame according to a predetermined staggered pilot symbol pattern defining pilot symbol locations within the resource of the transmit frame. The predetermined pilot symbol pattern is defined such that pilot symbols are located at or near time boundaries of the resource, at or near frequency boundaries of the resource, or both. By doing so, when generating a channel estimate for the communication channel between the OFDM transmitter and an OFDM receiver based on the pilot symbols, extrapolations needed to estimate the channel near the boundaries of the resource are optimized, thereby improving overall channel estimation accuracy.

Abstract: Methods described herein are for wireless communication systems. One aspect of the invention is directed to a method for a HARQ process, in which the HARQ process includes a first transmission of an encoder packet and at least one retransmission. The method involves allocating a transmission resource for each respective transmission. The method involves transmitting control information from a base station to a mobile station for each respective transmission. The control information includes information to uniquely identify the HARQ process and an identification of one of a time resource, a frequency resource and a time and frequency resource that is allocated for the transmission. In some embodiments of the invention, specific control information is signalled from a base station to a mobile station to enable RAS-HARQ operation. In some embodiments of the invention, retransmission signaling in included as part of regular unicast signaling used for both first transmission and retransmissions.

Abstract: A method and system for wireless data communication using a first wireless communication technology and a second wireless communication technology. The second wireless communication technology being different from the first wireless communication technology. A transmitter is arranged to transmit data using frame structures based on the first wireless communication technology and the second wireless communication technology in which the frame structure based on the second wireless communication technology has a timing structure, MAC and pilot that are also used with the frame structure of the first wireless communication technology. The transmitter is arranged to selectively change transmission on a frame by frame basis between the first wireless communication technology and the second wireless communication technology.

Abstract: The description herein relates to pilot designs for an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) based communication system. In the preferred embodiment, the communication system is one operating according to the IEEE 802.16m, or WiMax, standard. In general, an OFDM transmitter operates to insert pilot symbols into a resource of a transmit frame according to a predetermined staggered pilot symbol pattern defining pilot symbol locations within the resource of the transmit frame. The predetermined pilot symbol pattern is defined such that pilot symbols are located at or near time boundaries of the resource, at or near frequency boundaries of the resource, or both. By doing so, when generating a channel estimate for the communication channel between the OFDM transmitter and an OFDM receiver based on the pilot symbols, extrapolations needed to estimate the channel near the boundaries of the resource are optimized, thereby improving overall channel estimation accuracy.

Abstract: There is provided a method of encoding and decoding data using an error control code having a codebook G. The codebook G is a sub-codebook of a codebook P. Each codeword g in the sub-codebook G has an autocorrelation amplitude that is different from and higher than each correlation amplitude between g and each of the other codewords in the sub-codebook G. In one specific embodiment in which the codebook P is that of a Reed-Muller code, using G instead of P reduces the likelihood of the presence of more than one maximum correlation amplitude when computing the non-coherent decision metric during decoding.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an uplink control signal design for wireless system. One example method includes establishing communication with a mobile station in a multi-carrier wireless communication system using a primary carrier, providing a first control signaling via the primary carrier, the first control signaling assigning at least one secondary carrier, and receiving a channel quality indication of the secondary carrier via the primary carrier using a control channel.

Abstract: In order to minimize the control signaling overhead associated with transmitting CQI data from mobile stations to base stations in wireless communication networks supporting MU-MIMO, the CQI during MU-MIMO operation is estimated based on SU-MIMO CQI data, mobile station geometry data, and mobile station PMI (Precoding Matrix Index) data. More particularly, the base station maintains and updates a knowledge pool that correlates geometry data and learned impact of interfering precoder data to degradation of CQI values responsive to switching from SU-MIMO operation to MU-MIMO operations. Then, when the base station switches from SU-MIMO operation to MU-MIMO operation, it consults the knowledge pool to predict the degradation in CQI and subtracts them from the known, pre-switching SU-MIMO CQI feedback data for each relevant mobile station to predict the post-switching MU-MIMO CQIs for that mobile station.

Abstract: Systems and methods for OFDM channelization are provided that allow for the co-existence of sub-band channels and diversity channels. Methods of defining diversity sub-channels and sub-band sub-channels are provided, and systematic channel definition and labeling schemes are provided.

Abstract: A method for an SS to perform network entry in a multi-carrier wireless environment that has a primary carrier and at least one secondary carrier associated with a BS, the method comprising: a. sensing a carrier in an area serviced by the BS; b. determining if the carrier is a primary carrier or a secondary carrier; and c, performing the network entry if the determining establishes that the sensed carrier is a primary carrier and not a secondary carrier.

Abstract: Methods, base stations and access terminals for uplink signalling are provided. Resource request channel characteristics such as location in time-frequency, sequence, time slot, are assigned to each access terminal to distinguish their resource requests from the resource requests of other access terminals. Access terminals make requests using a resource request on a resource request channel having the assigned characteristics. The base station can then determine which access terminal transmitted 0 the resource request based on the resource request channel characteristics of the resource request channel upon which the resource>request was received. The base station then transmits a response to the request which may for example be a new resource allocation, a default allocation or a renewal of a previous allocation.