Patents by Inventor Jay R. Walton

Jay R. Walton has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20080212657
    Abstract: Techniques to iteratively detect and decode data transmitted in a wireless (e.g., MIMO-OFDM) communication system. The iterative detection and decoding is performed by iteratively passing soft (multi-bit) “a priori” information between a detector and a decoder. The detector receives modulation symbols, performs a detection function that is complementary to the symbol mapping performed at the transmitter, and provides soft-decision symbols for transmitted coded bits. “Extrinsic information” in the soft-decision symbols is then decoded by the decoder to provide its extrinsic information, which comprises the a priori information used by the detector in the detection process. The detection and decoding may be iterated a number of times. The soft-decision symbols and the a priori information may be represented using log-likelihood ratios (LLRs).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Bjorn A. Bjerke, John W. Ketchum, Jay R. Walton
  • Patent number: 7411929
    Abstract: Techniques for transmitting data from a transmitter unit to a receiver unit in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system. In one method, at the receiver unit, a number of signals are received via a number of receive antennas, with the received signal from each receive antenna comprising a combination of one or more signals transmitted from the transmitter unit. The received signals are processed to derive channel state information (CSI) indicative of characteristics of a number of transmission channels used for data transmission. The CSI is transmitted back to the transmitter unit. At the transmitter unit, the CSI from the receiver unit is received and data for transmission to the receiver unit is processed based on the received CSI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Fuyun Ling, Jay R. Walton, Steven J. Howard, Mark Wallace, John W. Ketchum
  • Patent number: 7248879
    Abstract: Techniques to schedule downlink data transmission to a number of terminals in a wireless communication system. In one method, one or more sets of terminals are formed for possible data transmission, with each set including a unique combination of one or more terminals and corresponding to a hypothesis to be evaluated. One or more sub-hypotheses may further be formed for each hypothesis, with each sub-hypothesis corresponding to specific assignments of a number of transmit antennas to the one or more terminals in the hypothesis. The performance of each sub-hypothesis is then evaluated, and one of the evaluated sub-hypotheses is selected based on their performance. The terminal(s) in the selected sub-hypothesis are then scheduled for data transmission, and data is thereafter coded, modulated, and transmitted to each scheduled terminal from one or more transmit antennas assigned to the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Jay R. Walton, Mark Wallace, Steven J. Howard
  • Patent number: 7221956
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling the transmit power for a number of data streams in a wireless multi-channel (e.g., MIMO) communication system. In one method, a number of received symbol streams are initially processed in accordance with a particular (e.g., CCMI, CCMI-SC, MMSE, or MMSE-SC) receiver processing technique to provide a number of detected data streams. The post-detection SNRs of the detected data streams are estimated, and each SNR that exceeds a setpoint is identified. This setpoint may correspond to (1) the SNR needed to achieve the maximum allowed spectral efficiency or (2) the target SNR needed to achieve a specified spectral efficiency. A new (or adjusted) transmit power for each detected data stream associated with a post-detection SNR that exceeds the setpoint is determined and used for the data stream. Different power control schemes are provided for different classes of receiver processing techniques with different characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Irina Medvedev, Jay R. Walton, John W. Ketchum
  • Patent number: 7164649
    Abstract: Techniques to adaptively control the rate of a data transmission in a wireless (e.g., OFDM) communication system. In an aspect, various types of metrics may be derived and used to select the proper rate for the data transmission. Some types of metrics relate to different characteristics of the communication channel, such as SNR, frequency selectivity, time selectivity, and so on. One type of metric relates to the performance of the data transmission. In another aspect, the various types of metrics may be used in different manners to adaptively control the rate. Some metrics may be used for open-loop control of the rate, other metrics may be used for closed-loop control, and some may be used for both. For example, the channel metrics may be used to determine or select the rate, and the performance metrics may be used to determine whether or not to adjust the rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Qualcomm, Incorporated
    Inventors: Jay R. Walton, John W. Ketchum, Steven J. Howard, Mark Wallace
  • Patent number: 7154936
    Abstract: Techniques to iteratively detect and decode data transmitted in a wireless (e.g., MIMO-OFDM) communication system. The iterative detection and decoding is performed by iteratively passing soft (multi-bit) “a priori” information between a detector and a decoder. The detector receives modulation symbols, performs a detection function that is complementary to the symbol mapping performed at the transmitter, and provides soft-decision symbols for transmitted coded bits. “Extrinsic information” in the soft-decision symbols is then decoded by the decoder to provide its extrinsic information, which comprises the a priori information used by the detector in the detection process. The detection and decoding may be iterated a number of times. The soft-decision symbols and the a priori information may be represented using log-likelihood ratios (LLRs).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Qualcomm, Incorporated
    Inventors: Bjorn A. Bjerke, John W. Ketchum, Jay R. Walton
  • Patent number: 7095709
    Abstract: Techniques for transmitting data using a number of diversity transmission modes to improve reliability. At a transmitter, for each of one or more data streams, a particular diversity transmission mode is selected for use from among a number of possible transmission modes. These transmission modes may include a frequency diversity transmission mode, a Walsh diversity transmission mode, a space time transmit diversity (STTD) transmission mode, and a Walsh-STTD transmission mode. Each diversity transmission mode redundantly transmits data over time, frequency, space, or a combination thereof. Each data stream is coded and modulated to provide modulation symbols, which are further processed based on the selected diversity transmission mode to provide transmit symbols. For OFDM, the transmit symbols for all data streams are further OFDM modulated to provide a stream of transmission symbols for each transmit antenna used for data transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: QUALCOMM, Incorporated
    Inventors: Jay R. Walton, John W. Ketchum
  • Patent number: 7076263
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling the transmit power for a number of data streams in a wireless multi-channel (e.g., MIMO) communication system. In one method, a number of received symbol streams are initially processed in accordance with a particular (e.g., CCMI, CCMI-SC, MMSE, or MMSE-SC) receiver processing technique to provide a number of detected data streams. The post-detection SNRs of the detected data streams are estimated, and each SNR that exceeds a setpoint is identified. This setpoint may correspond to (1) the SNR needed to achieve the maximum allowed spectral efficiency or (2) the target SNR needed to achieve a specified spectral efficiency. A new (or adjusted) transmit power for each detected data stream associated with a post-detection SNR that exceeds the setpoint is determined and used for the data stream. Different power control schemes are provided for different classes of receiver processing techniques with different characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Qualcomm, Incorporated
    Inventors: Irina Medvedev, Jay R. Walton, John W. Ketchum
  • Patent number: 7072413
    Abstract: Techniques to process data for transmission over multiple transmission channels. The available transmission channels are segregated into one or more groups, and the channels in each group are selected for use for data transmission. Data for each group is coded and modulated based on a particular coding and modulation scheme to provide modulation symbols, and the modulation symbols for each selected channel are weighted based on an assigned weight. The weighting “inverts” the selected channels such that they achieve similar received SNRs. With selective channel inversion, only “good” channels in each group having SNRs at or above a particular threshold are selected, “bad” channels are not used, and the total available transmit power for the group is distributed across the good channels in the group. Improved performance is achieved by using only good channels in each group and matching each selected channel's received SNR to the required SNR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: QUALCOMM, Incorporated
    Inventors: Jay R. Walton, John W. Ketchum
  • Patent number: 7054378
    Abstract: Techniques to “successively” process received signals at a receiver unit in a MIMO system to recover transmitted data, and to “adaptively” process data at a transmitter unit based on channel state information available for the MIMO channel. A successive cancellation receiver processing technique is used to process the received signals and performs a number of iterations to provide decoded data streams. For each iteration, input (e.g., received) signals for the iteration are processed to provide one or more symbol streams. One of the symbol streams is selected and processed to provide a decoded data stream. The interference due to the decoded data stream is approximately removed (i.e., canceled) from the input signals provided to the next iteration. The channel characteristics are estimated and reported back to the transmitter system and used to adjust (i.e., adapt) the processing (e.g., coding, modulation, and so on) of data prior to transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: QUALCOMM, Incorporated
    Inventors: Jay R. Walton, Mark Wallace, John W. Ketchum, Steven J. Howard
  • Patent number: 7006848
    Abstract: Techniques for transmitting data from a transmitter unit to a receiver unit in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system. In one method, at the receiver unit, a number of signals are received via a number of receive antennas, with the received signal from each receive antenna comprising a combination of one or more signals transmitted from the transmitter unit. The received signals are processed with a spatial, a space-time, or a full-CSI technique to derive channel state information (CSI) indicative of the characteristics of a number of transmission channels used for data transmission. The CSI (which may comprise SNR estimates, data rate indicators, complex channel gains, or some other information) is transmitted back to the transmitter unit. At the transmitter unit, the CSI is received and data for transmission to the receiver unit is processed (e.g., coded and modulated) based on the received CSI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Fuyun Ling, Jay R. Walton, Steven J. Howard, Mark Wallace, John W. Ketchum
  • Patent number: 6961388
    Abstract: Coding techniques for a (e.g., OFDM) communication system capable of transmitting data on a number of “transmission channels” at different information bit rates based on the channels' achieved SNR. A base code is used in combination with common or variable puncturing to achieve different coding rates required by the transmission channels. The data (i.e., information bits) for a data transmission is encoded with the base code, and the coded bits for each channel (or group of channels with the similar transmission capabilities) are punctured to achieve the required coding rate. The coded bits may be interleaved (e.g., to combat fading and remove correlation between coded bits in each modulation symbol) prior to puncturing. The unpunctured coded bits are grouped into non-binary symbols and mapped to modulation symbols (e.g., using Gray mapping). The modulation symbol may be “pre-conditioned” and prior to transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Qualcomm, Incorporated
    Inventors: Fuyun Ling, Nagabhushana T. Sindhushayana, Jay R. Walton, Mark Wallace, Ivan Fernandez
  • Patent number: 6952454
    Abstract: Transmitter and receiver units for use in an OFDM communications system and configurable to support multiple types of services. The transmitter unit includes one or more encoders, a symbol mapping element, and a modulator. Each encoder receives and codes a respective channel data stream to generate a corresponding coded data stream. The symbol mapping element receives and maps data from the coded data streams to generate modulation symbol vectors, with each modulation symbol vector including a set of data values used to modulate a set of tones to generate an OFDM symbol. The modulator modulates the modulation symbol vectors to provide a modulated signal suitable for transmission. The data from each coded data stream is mapped to a respective set of one or more “circuits”. Each circuit can be defined to include a number of tones from a number of OFDM symbols, a number of tones from a single OFDM symbol, all tones from one or more OFDM symbols, or some other combination of tones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Qualcomm, Incorporated
    Inventors: Ahmad Jalali, Jay R. Walton, Mark Wallace
  • Patent number: 6785341
    Abstract: Techniques to “successively” process received signals at a receiver unit in a MIMO system to recover transmitted data, and to “adaptively” process data at a transmitter unit based on channel state information available for the MIMO channel. A successive cancellation receiver processing technique is used to process the received signals and performs a number of iterations to provide decoded data streams. For each iteration, input (e.g., received) signals for the iteration are processed to provide one or more symbol streams. One of the symbol streams is selected and processed to provide a decoded data stream. The interference due to the decoded data stream is approximately removed (i.e., canceled) from the input signals provided to the next iteration. The channel characteristics are estimated and reported back to the transmitter system and used to adjust (i.e., adapt) the processing (e.g., coding, modulation, and so on) of data prior to transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Jay R. Walton, Mark Wallace, John W. Ketchum, Steven J. Howard
  • Publication number: 20040165558
    Abstract: Techniques for transmitting data from a transmitter unit to a receiver unit in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system. In one method, at the receiver unit, a number of signals are received via a number of receive antennas, with the received signal from each receive antenna comprising a combination of one or more signals transmitted from the transmitter unit. The received signals are processed to derive channel state information (CSI) indicative of characteristics of a number of transmission channels used for data transmission. The CSI is transmitted back to the transmitter unit. At the transmitter unit, the CSI from the receiver unit is received and data for transmission to the receiver unit is processed based on the received CSI.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Fuyun Ling, Jay R. Walton, Steven J. Howard, Mark Wallace, John W. Ketchum
  • Patent number: 6771706
    Abstract: Techniques for transmitting data from a transmitter unit to a receiver unit in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system. In one method, at the receiver unit, a number of signals are received via a number of receive antennas, with the received signal from each receive antenna comprising a combination of one or more signals transmitted from the transmitter unit. The received signals are processed to derive channel state information (CSI) indicative of characteristics of a number of transmission channels used for data transmission. The CSI is transmitted back to the transmitter unit. At the transmitter unit, the CSI from the receiver unit is received and data for transmission to the receiver unit is processed based on the received CSI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Fuyun Ling, Jay R. Walton, Steven J. Howard, Mark Wallace, John W. Ketchum
  • Patent number: 6751187
    Abstract: Techniques to select transmission channels for use for data transmission and to process and transmit data over the selected transmission channels. Transmission channels available for use are segregated into one or more groups, with each group including any number of channels. With selective channel transmission, only “good” channels in each group are selected (e.g., based on the channels' received SNRs and an SNR threshold), “bad” channels are not used, and the total available transmit power for the group is (e.g., uniformly) distributed across only the good channels. Each group may also be associated with a respective coding and modulation scheme, and data for each group may be coded and modulated based on the scheme selected for the group. Improved performance is achieved by using only good channels in each group and matching the data processing for the selected channels to the capacity achievable by the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Jay R. Walton, John W. Ketchum
  • Patent number: 6744743
    Abstract: In some aspects, each cell in the communications system can be designed to operate in accordance with a set of back-off factors that identify the reductions in peak transmit power levels for the channels associated with the back-off factors. The back-off factors are defined to provide the required power to a large percentage of the users while reducing the amount of interference. In some other aspects, the cells operate using an adaptive reuse scheme that allows the cells to efficiently allocate and reallocate the system resources to reflect changes in the system. A reuse scheme is initially defined and resources are allocated to the cells. During operation, changes in the operating conditions of the system are detected and the reuse scheme is redefined as necessary based on the detected changes. In yet other aspects, techniques are provided to efficiency schedule data transmissions and to assign channels to users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Jay R. Walton, Mark Wallace, Jack Holtzman, Franklin P. Antonio
  • Publication number: 20040085892
    Abstract: In one aspect of a multiple-access OFDM-CDMA system, the data spreading is performed in the frequency domain by spreading each data stream with a respective spreading code selected from a set of available spreading codes. To support multiple access, system resources may be allocated and de-allocated to users (e.g., spreading codes may be assigned to users as needed, and transmit power may be allocated to users). Variable rate data for each user may be supported via a combination of spreading adjustment and transmit power scaling. Interference control techniques are also provided to improve system performance via power control of the downlink and/or uplink transmissions to achieve the desired level of performance while minimizing interference. A pilot may be transmitted by each transmitter unit to assist the receiver units perform acquisition, timing synchronization, carrier recovery, handoff, channel estimation, coherent data demodulation, and so on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Jay R. Walton, John W. Ketchum, Steven J. Howard, Mark Wallace
  • Publication number: 20030235255
    Abstract: Techniques for processing a data transmission at a transmitter and receiver, which use channel eigen-decomposition, channel inversion, and (optionally) “water-pouring”. At the transmitter, (1) channel eigen-decomposition is performed to determine eigenmodes of a MIMO channel and to derive a first set of steering vectors, (2) channel inversion is performed to derive weights (e.g., one set for each eigenmode) used to minimize ISI distortion, and (3) water-pouring may be performed to derive scaling values indicative of the transmit powers allocated to the eigenmodes. The first set of steering vectors, weights, and scaling values are used to derive a pulse-shaping matrix, which is used to precondition modulation symbols prior to transmission. At the receiver, channel eigen-decomposition is performed to derive a second set of steering vectors, which are used to derive a pulse-shaping matrix used to condition received symbols such that orthogonal symbol streams are recovered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Inventors: John W. Ketchum, Jay R. Walton