Link adaptation in wireless communications

A method for performing link adaptation between a first network node and a second network node of a wireless network, the method comprising in the second network node:

• initializing data transmission with the first network node by receiving a request-to-send message from the first network node and by transmitting a clear-to-send message to the first network node, wherein the request-to-send message and the clear-to-send message are transmitted on one or more channels of the wireless network;
• after said initializing, receiving a first data packet of the data transmission, wherein the first data packet is processed with link adaptation parameters fixedly associated for use in connection with first data packets of data transmissions, wherein said link adaptation parameters are included in a subset of most robust link adaptation parameters supported by the second network node;
• performing channel estimation on the basis of the received first data packet and determining, on the basis of the channel estimation, new link adaptation parameters matched with channel characteristics of a radio channel between the first network node and the second network node;
• generating a message indicating the new link adaptation parameters and transmitting the message to the first network node;
• and
• receiving a second data packet of the data transmission from the first network node, wherein said the second data packet is processed with the new link adaptation parameters.

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including a computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause a first network node of a wireless network to perform operations comprising:
• initializing data transmission with a second network node of the wireless network by transmitting a request-to-send message to the second network node and by receiving a clear-to-send message from the second network node, wherein the request-to-send message and the clear-to-send message are configured to be transmitted on one or more channels of the wireless network;
• after said initializing, generating a first data packet of the data transmission by processing the first data packet with link adaptation parameters fixedly associated for use in connection with first data packets of data transmissions, wherein said link adaptation parameters are included in a subset of most robust link adaptation parameters supported by the first network node;
• receiving, from the second network node, a message indicating new link adaptation parameters for use in a subsequent data transmission;
• and
• generating a second data packet of the data transmission, wherein said generating the second data packet comprises processing the second data packet with the new link adaptation parameters indicated in the message.

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including a computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause a first network node of a wireless network to perform operations comprising:
• initializing data transmission with a second network node of the wireless network by receiving a request-to-send message from the second network node and by transmitting a clear-to-send message to the second network node, wherein the request-to-send message and the clear-to-send message are configured to be transmitted on one or more channels of the wireless network;
• after said initializing, receiving a first data packet of the data transmission, wherein the first data packet is processed with link adaptation parameters fixedly associated for use in connection with first data packets of data transmissions, wherein said link adaptation parameters are included in a subset of most robust link adaptation parameters supported by the first network node;
• performing channel estimation on the basis of the received first data packet and determine, on the basis of the channel estimation, new link adaptation parameters matched with channel characteristics of a radio channel between the first network node and the second network node;
• generating a message indicating the new link adaptation parameters and transmit the message to the second network node;
• and
• receiving a second data packet of the data transmission from the second network node, wherein said the second data packet is processed with the new link adaptation parameters.