Abstract: A wireless transmitter includes a stream parser for generating a plurality of spatial streams from a digital signal and a space time block coder (STBC) for mapping each of the spatial streams to a plurality of space-time streams that each include data and a preamble for estimating a channel transfer function. The transmitter also includes a spatial mapper for spatially expanding each of the space-time streams by applying a spatial expansion matrix to data and to first training symbols used in the preamble to probe a channel experienced by the data and by applying an extension matrix to second training symbols used in the preamble to probe at least one additional dimension of the channel to enable use of beamforming to achieve range extension The spatial expansion matrix and the extension matrix form an overall matrix that has at least two orthogonal columns with different norms.

Abstract: A method is provided for transmitting a digital signal. The method includes generating a plurality of spatial streams from a digital signal and transforming the spatial streams into a plurality of space-time streams. Each of the space-time streams are cycled in the frequency domain among each of a plurality of transmit antennas. The space-time streams are wirelessly transmitted from the plurality of transmit antennas.

Abstract: A method is provided for performing channel equalization on a wireless signal. The method includes: (i) formulating an equalizer associated with sub-carriers of the wireless signal, wherein the equalizer is a function of a quantity relating to signal quality (305); (ii) determining an adjoint of the equalizer over a selected number of the subcarriers (310); (iii) interpolating the adjoint determined in (ii) to obtain an adjoint of the equalizer over remaining ones of the subcarriers of the wireless signal (315); and (iv) generating an equalized signal for each of the subcarriers using the adjoint of the equalizer over the selected number of subcarriers and the interpolated adjoint over the remaining ones of the subcarriers (320).

Abstract: A transmitter comprises a block generator (109) which divides a data symbol stream into data symbol blocks. A divide processor (111) divides each block into a first set of data symbols stored in a first set buffer (113) and a second set of data symbols stored in a second set buffer (115). A space time block encoder (117) codes the first set in accordance with a space time block code to generate a coded set of data symbols. A parallel processor (119) then creates a plurality of parallel data streams from the coded set and the second set. Each of the parallel data streams is allocated to one of a plurality of antennas (129-135). A plurality of parallel stream transmitters (121-127) transmits the parallel data streams in parallel in a communication channel from the plurality of transmit antennas (129-135).

Abstract: A method is provided for performing channel equalization on a wireless signal. The method includes: (i) formulating an equalizer associated with sub-carriers of the wireless signal, wherein the equalizer is a function of a quantity relating to signal quality (305); (ii) determining an adjoint of the equalizer over a selected number of the subcarriers (310); (iii) interpolating the adjoint determined in (ii) to obtain an adjoint of the equalizer over remaining ones of the subcarriers of the wireless signal (315); and (iv) generating an equalized signal for each of the subcarriers using the adjoint of the equalizer over the selected number of subcarriers and the interpolated adjoint over the remaining ones of the subcarriers (320).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for encoding a modulated signal in a communication system. The method comprises generating an initial constellation, applying a vertical axis symmetry to the initial constellation to generate a first resulting constellation, translating the first resulting constellation to a left direction of the initial constellation to produce a left flipped constellation, applying a horizontal axis symmetry to the initial constellation to generate a second resulting constellation, translating the second resulting constellation to an up direction of the initial constellation to produce an up flipped constellation, applying a central axis symmetry to the initial constellation to generate a third resulting constellation; and translating the third resulting constellation to a left-up direction of the initial constellation to produce a left-up flipped constellation.

Abstract: A transmitter comprises a block generator (109) which divides a data symbol stream into data symbol blocks. A divide processor (111) divides each block into a first set of data symbols stored in a first set buffer (113) and a second set of data symbols stored in a second set buffer (115). A space time block encoder (117) codes the first set in accordance with a space time block code to generate a coded set of data symbols. A parallel processor (119) then creates a plurality of parallel data streams from the coded set and the second set. Each of the parallel data streams is allocated to one of a plurality of antennas (129-135). A plurality of parallel stream transmitters (121-127) transmits the parallel data streams in parallel in a communication channel from the plurality of transmit antennas (129-135).

Abstract: A method is provided for transmitting a digital signal. The method includes generating a plurality of spatial streams from a digital signal and transforming the spatial streams into a plurality of space-time streams. Each of the space-time streams are cycled in the frequency domain among each of a plurality of transmit antennas. The space-time streams are wirelessly transmitted from the plurality of transmit antennas.

Abstract: An Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) transmitter (100) comprises a symbol generator (103) for generating a first OFDM symbol comprising user data and pilot data where the pilot data comprises a set of predetermined non-orthogonal pilot symbols. A weight generator (109) uses an amplitude estimator (107) for selecting a set of weights for the pilot data of the first OFDM symbol in response to a time domain amplitude variation characteristic of the first OFDM symbol. In particular, the peak to average power ratio may be determined. The set of weights are selected from a discrete alphabet of weights. A weight processor (113) determines a second OFDM symbol by weighting the pilot symbols by the set of weights. The second OFDM symbol is transmitted to a receiver without transmitting identification of the selected set of weights. The receiver may perform a blind detection of the applied weights and may compensate the received pilot symbols for the estimated weight.

Abstract: An Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, OFDM, transmitter comprises a signalling data generator (113) which generates a set of data symbols indicative of physical layer characteristics of data transmissions from the OFDM transmitter (100). A first symbol generator (115) and second symbol generator (117) generates a first and second OFDM signalling symbol by allocating the set of data symbols to subcarriers. The allocation of the physical layer data symbols to subcarriers is different for the first OFDM signalling symbol and the second OFDM signalling symbol. A data packet generator (105) and transmitter (101) generate a data packet and transmit this to an OFDM receiver (300). The OFDM receiver (300) determines the physical layer data symbols by combining the data symbols of corresponding subcarriers of the first and second OFDM signalling symbols and uses the resulting information to decode the user data of the data packet.

Abstract: A wireless transmitter includes a stream parser for generating a plurality of spatial streams from a digital signal and a space time block coder (STBC) for mapping each of the spatial streams to a plurality of space-time streams that each include data and a preamble for estimating a channel transfer function. The transmitter also includes a spatial mapper for spatially expanding each of the space-time streams by applying a spatial expansion matrix to data and to first training symbols used in the preamble to probe a channel experienced by the data and by applying an extension matrix to second training symbols used in the preamble to probe at least one additional dimension of the channel to enable use of beamforming to achieve range extension The spatial expansion matrix and the extension matrix form an overall matrix that has at least two orthogonal columns with different norms.

Abstract: An Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, OFDM, transmitter comprises a signalling data generator (113) which generates a set of data symbols indicative of physical layer characteristics of data transmissions from the OFDM transmitter (100). A first symbol generator (115) and second symbol generator (117) generates a first and second OFDM signalling symbol by allocating the set of data symbols to subcarriers. The allocation of the physical layer data symbols to subcarriers is different for the first OFDM signalling symbol and the second OFDM signalling symbol. A data packet generator (105) and transmitter (101) generate a data packet and transmit this to an OFDM receiver (300). The OFDM receiver (300) determines the physical layer data symbols by combining the data symbols of corresponding subcarriers of the first and second OFDM signalling symbols and uses the resulting information to decode the user data of the data packet.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for encoding a modulated signal in a communication system. The method comprises generating an initial constellation, applying a vertical axis symmetry to the initial constellation to generate a first resulting constellation, translating the first resulting constellation to a left direction of the initial constellation to produce a left flipped constellation, applying a horizontal axis symmetry to the initial constellation to generate a second resulting constellation, translating the second resulting constellation to an up direction of the initial constellation to produce an up flipped constellation, applying a central axis symmetry to the initial constellation to generate a third resulting constellation; and translating the third resulting constellation to a left-up direction of the initial constellation to produce a left-up flipped constellation.

Abstract: An Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) transmitter (100) comprises a symbol generator (103) for generating a first OFDM symbol comprising user data and pilot data where the pilot data comprises a set of predetermined non-orthogonal pilot symbols. A weight generator (109) uses an amplitude estimator (107) for selecting a set of weights for the pilot data of the first OFDM symbol in response to a time domain amplitude variation characteristic of the first OFDM symbol. In particular, the peak to average power ratio may be determined. The set of weights are selected from a discrete alphabet of weights. A weight processor (113) determines a second OFDM symbol by weighting the pilot symbols by the set of weights. The second OFDM symbol is transmitted to a receiver without transmitting identification of the selected set of weights. The receiver may perform a blind detection of the applied weights and may compensate the received pilot symbols for the estimated weight.

Abstract: A method is provided to compensate for environmental factors experienced by a wireless signal during transmission between a transmitter and a receiver. The method begins by receiving a wireless signal that includes a data frame having a preamble used to estimate a quantity (e.g., a channel transfer function) relating to signal quality. A portion of the preamble includes information specifying at least one parameter defining a format employed by the data frame. The selected portion of the preamble is decoded and a value for the quantity is estimated using the received preamble, including the decoded selected portion thereof. A signal is demodulated based at least in part on the estimated value of the quantity.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of operating a coded OFDM communication system by interleaving a plurality of encoder output bits; mapping the interleaved bits to a plurality of modulated symbols; and forming a set of OFDM symbols for a plurality of transmit antennas based on the modulated symbols.