Method and apparatus for increasing data throughput in a multiple antenna communication system using additional subcarriers

A transmitter that transmits data in a multiple antenna communication system, wherein said multiple antenna communication system communicates with at least one legacy system employing an N1 point fast Fourier transform (FFT) within a bandwidth, BW1, said transmitter comprising:

• an N2 point inverse FFT operating within said bandwidth, BW1, wherein N2 is greater than N1, wherein subcarriers associated with said N2 point inverse FFT are employed to transmit said data.

A method for transmitting data in a multiple antenna communication system, wherein said multiple antenna communication system communicates with at least one legacy system employing an N1 point fast Fourier transform (FFT) within a bandwidth, BW1, said method comprising:

• employing an N2 point inverse FFT within a bandwidth, BW2, wherein N2 is greater than N1 and said bandwidth, BW2, is greater than said bandwidth, BW1;
• and
• employing subcarriers associated with said N2 point inverse FFT to transmit said data, wherein said employed subcarriers includes one or more additional subcarriers at outer edges of said bandwidth, BW1, relative to said legacy system and one or more additional subcarriers near DC relative to said legacy system.

A method for receiving data in a multiple antenna communication system, wherein said multiple antenna communication system communicates with at least one legacy system employing an N1 point fast Fourier transform (FFT) within a bandwidth, BW1, said method comprising:

• employing an N2 point inverse FFT within said bandwidth, BW1, wherein N2 is greater than N1;
• and
• employing subcarriers associated with said N2 point inverse FFT to receive said data.

A method for receiving data in a multiple antenna communication system, wherein said multiple antenna communication system communicates with at least one legacy system employing an N1 point fast Fourier transform (FFT) within a bandwidth, BW1, said method comprising:

• employing an N2 point inverse FFT within a bandwidth, BW2, wherein N2 is greater than N1 and said bandwidth, BW2, is greater than said bandwidth, BW1;
• and
• employing subcarriers associated with said N2 point inverse FFT to receive said data, wherein said employed subcarriers includes one or more additional subcarriers at outer edges of said bandwidth, BW1, relative to said legacy system and one or more additional subcarriers near DC relative to said legacy system.