Hybrid ARQ schemes with soft combining in variable rate packet data applications

A method of operating a wireless receiver to wirelessly receive a data packet on a variable rate channel from a transmitter, the method comprising:

• receiving a first transmission from the transmitter at a first data transmission rate, wherein the first transmission includes a first transmission block portion and a second transmission block portion;
• attempting to decode the first transmission in a first decoding;
• and
• when the first decoding is not successful, requesting and receiving a second transmission from the transmitter at a second data transmission rate different from the first data transmission rate, wherein the second transmission includes the first transmission block portion.

A method of operating a wireless receiver to wirelessly receive a data packet from a transmitter, the method comprising:

• receiving a first transmission from the receiver that includes data bits and first parity bits;
• attempting to decode the first transmission at a first decoding rate;
• and
• when the first decoding is unsuccessful, requesting and receiving a second transmission from the transmitter that includes the data bits and second parity bits, wherein the second parity bits are different from the first parity bits.

A method of operating a wireless receiver to wirelessly receive a data packet on a variable rate channel from a transmitter, the method comprising:

• receiving a first transmission from the transmitter, wherein the first transmission includes a set of data bits coded at a first coding rate;
• attempting to decode the first transmission in a first decoding;
• when the first decoding is not successful, requesting and receiving a second transmission from the receiver that includes the set of data bits coded at a second coding rate that is less than the first coding rate;
• and
• attempting to decode the second transmission in a second decoding.

A base station that acts as a transmitter to wirelessly transmit a data packet on a variable rate channel to a user terminal acting as a receiver, the base station comprising:

• an antenna;
• a Radio Frequency unit coupled to the antenna;
• and
• at least one digital processor coupled to the Radio Frequency unit that executes software instructions causing the base station to:
• transmit a first transmission block portion and a second transmission block portion to the receiver in a first transmission at a first data transmission rate;
• and
• when the receiver does not successfully decode the first transmission in a first decoding, transmit a second transmission to the receiver at a second data transmission rate different from the first data transmission rate, wherein the second transmission includes the first transmission block portion.

A base station that acts as a transmitter to wirelessly transmit a data packet to a user terminal acting as a receiver, the base station comprising:

• an antenna;
• a Radio Frequency unit coupled to the antenna;
• and
• at least one digital processor coupled to the Radio Frequency unit that executes software instructions causing the base station to:
• transmit a first transmission to the receiver that includes data bits and first parity bits;
• and
• when the receiver does not successfully decode the first transmission in a first decoding at a first decoding rate, transmit a second transmission to the receiver that includes the data bits and second parity bits, wherein the second parity bits are different from the first parity bits.

A base station that acts as a transmitter to wirelessly transmit a data packet to a user terminal acting as a receiver, the base station comprising:

• an antenna;
• a Radio Frequency unit coupled to the antenna;
• and
• at least one digital processor coupled to the Radio Frequency unit that executes software instructions causing the base station to:
• transmit a first transmission to the receiver that includes a set of data bits coded at a first coding rate;
• and
• when the receiver does not successfully decode the first transmission in a first decoding, transmit a second transmission to the receiver that includes the set of data bits coded at a second coding rate that is less than the first coding rate.

A user terminal that acts as a wireless receiver to wirelessly receive a data packet on a variable rate channel from a base station acting as a transmitter, the user terminal comprising:

• an antenna;
• a Radio Frequency unit coupled to the antenna;
• and
• a digital processor coupled to the Radio Frequency unit that executes software instructions causing the user terminal to:
• receive a first transmission from the transmitter at a first data transmission rate, wherein the first transmission includes a first transmission block portion and a second transmission block portion;
• attempt to decode the first transmission in a first decoding;
• and
• when the first decoding is not successful, request and receive a second transmission from the transmitter at a second data transmission rate different from the first data transmission rate, wherein the second transmission includes the first transmission block portion.

A user terminal that acts as a wireless receiver to wirelessly receive a data packet from a base station acting as a transmitter, the user terminal comprising:

• an antenna;
• a Radio Frequency unit coupled to the antenna;
• and
• a digital processor coupled to the Radio Frequency unit that executes software instructions causing the user terminal to:
• receive a first transmission from the receiver that includes data bits and first parity bits;
• attempt to decode the first transmission at a first decoding rate;
• and
• when the first decoding is unsuccessful, request and receive a second transmission from the transmitter that includes the data bits and second parity bits, wherein the second parity bits are different from the first parity bits.

A user terminal that acts as a wireless receiver to wirelessly receive a data packet from a base station acting as a transmitter, the user terminal comprising:

• an antenna;
• a Radio Frequency unit coupled to the antenna;
• and
• a digital processor coupled to the Radio Frequency unit that executes software instructions causing the user terminal to:
• receive a first transmission from the transmitter, wherein the first transmission includes a set of data bits coded at a first coding rate;
• attempt to decode the first transmission in a first decoding;
• when the first decoding is not successful, request and receiving a second transmission from the receiver that includes the set of data bits coded at a second coding rate that is less than the first coding rate;
• and
• attempt to decode the second transmission in a second decoding.

A plurality of software instructions stored on a media that, upon execution by a user terminal, cause the user terminal to act as a receiver to wirelessly receive a data packet from a base station acting as a receiver, the plurality of software instructions comprising:

• a set of instructions executed by the user terminal that cause the user terminal to receive a first transmission from the transmitter at a first data transmission rate, wherein the first transmission includes a first transmission block portion and a second transmission block portion;
• a set of instructions executed by the user terminal that cause the user terminal to attempt to decode the first transmission in a first decoding;
• and
• a set of instructions executed by the user terminal that cause the user terminal to, when the first decoding is not successful, request and receive a second transmission from the transmitter at a second data transmission rate different from the first data transmission rate, wherein the second transmission includes the first transmission block portion.

A plurality of software instructions stored on a media that, upon execution by a user terminal, cause the user terminal to act as a receiver to wirelessly receive a data packet from a base station acting as a receiver, the plurality of software instructions comprising:

• a set of instructions executed by the user terminal that cause the user terminal to receive a first transmission from the receiver that includes data bits and first parity bits;
• a set of instructions executed by the user terminal that cause the user terminal to attempt to decode the first transmission at a first decoding rate;
• and
• a set of instructions executed by the user terminal that cause the user terminal to, when the first decoding is unsuccessful, request and receive a second transmission from the transmitter that includes the data bits and second parity bits, wherein the second parity bits are different from the first parity bits.

A plurality of software instructions stored on a media that, upon execution by a user terminal, cause the user terminal to act as a receiver to wirelessly receive a data packet from a base station acting as a receiver, the plurality of software instructions comprising:

• a set of instructions executed by the user terminal that cause the user terminal to receive a first transmission from the transmitter, wherein the first transmission includes a set of data bits coded at a first coding rate;
• a set of instructions executed by the user terminal that cause the user terminal to attempt to decode the first transmission in a first decoding;
• a set of instructions executed by the user terminal that cause the user terminal to, when the first decoding is not successful, request and receiving a second transmission from the receiver that includes the set of data bits coded at a second coding rate that is less than the first coding rate;
• and
• a set of instructions executed by the user terminal that cause the user terminal to attempt to decode the second transmission in a second decoding.