Backward compatible transmitter diversity scheme for use in an ofdm communication system

A diversity transmitter comprising:

• means for transforming an input data bit stream bi into an OFDM symbol stream and for dividing said OFDM symbol stream into a first OFDM symbol sub-stream and a second OFDM symbol sub-stream wherein said first OFDM symbol sub-stream includes only even symbols from said OFDM symbol stream and said second OFDM symbol sub-stream includes only odd symbols from said OFDM symbol stream;
• means for further processing said first OFDM symbol sub-stream;
• means for further processing said second OFDM symbol sub-stream;
• means for transmitting said further processed first OFDM symbol sub-stream;
• and
• means for transmitting said further processed second OFDM symbol sub-stream;
• wherein said first and second OFDM symbol sub-streams are transmitted over non-overlapping frequencies.

A method for transmitting an input symbol stream from a transmitting node in a wireless communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving an input data bit stream;
• (b) transforming the received input data bit stream into an OFDM symbol stream comprised of even and odd symbols;
• (c) dividing said OFDM symbol stream into a first symbol sub-stream including only even symbols from said OFDM symbol stream and a second symbol sub-stream including only odd symbols from said OFDM symbol stream;
• (d) processing said first symbol sub-stream by a first processing block to output a first processed symbol sub-stream;
• (e) processing said second symbol sub-stream by a second processing block to output a second processed symbol sub-stream;
• (f) transmitting said first processed symbol sub-stream from a first diversity antenna;
• and
• (g) transmitting said second processed symbol sub-stream from a second diversity antenna;
• wherein said first and second further processed OFDM symbol sub-streams are transmitted over non-overlapping frequencies.