Method and apparatus for using multiple modulation schemes for a single packet

An apparatus in a wireless communication system, comprising:

• an encoder operative to encode a data packet to obtain a plurality of code bits for the data packet;
• a partitioning unit operative to form a plurality of blocks of code bits with the plurality of code bits;
• a controller operative to determine a modulation scheme to use for each of the plurality of blocks, wherein at least two different modulation schemes are used for the plurality of blocks;
• and
• a symbol mapping unit operative to map the code bits in each of the plurality of blocks in accordance with the modulation scheme used for the block to generate modulation symbols for the block, wherein a plurality of blocks of modulation symbols are generated for the plurality of blocks of code bits.

An apparatus in a communication system, comprising:

• means for encoding a data packet to obtain a plurality of code bits for the data packet;
• means for forming a plurality of blocks of code bits with the plurality of code bits;
• means for determining a modulation scheme to use for each of the plurality of blocks, wherein at least two different modulation schemes are used for the plurality of blocks;
• and
• means for mapping the code bits in each of the plurality of blocks in accordance with a modulation scheme used for the block to generate modulation symbols for the block, wherein a plurality of blocks of modulation symbols are generated for the plurality of blocks of code bits.

A method of transmitting data in a communication system, comprising:

• encoding a data packet to obtain a plurality of code bits for the data packet;
• forming a block of code bits with the plurality of code bits;
• determining a modulation scheme to use for the block of code bits;
• mapping the code bits in the block in accordance with the modulation scheme to obtain modulation symbols for the block;
• and
• repeating the forming the block of code bits, the determining the modulation scheme to use for the block, and the mapping the code bits in the block for another block until the data packet is decoded correctly by a receiver or a maximum number of blocks have been transmitted for the data packet, and wherein at least two different modulation schemes are used for the maximum number of blocks.

A method of receiving data in a communication system, comprising:

• obtaining a plurality of blocks of received data symbols for a data packet;
• determining a modulation scheme used for each of the plurality of blocks, wherein at least two different modulation schemes are used for the plurality of blocks;
• performing detection on each of the plurality of blocks of received data symbols in accordance with the modulation scheme used for the block to generate detected data symbols for the block;
• and
• decoding detected data symbols generated from the plurality of blocks of received data symbols to obtain a decoded packet.

An apparatus in a communication system, comprising:

• a receiver unit operative to obtain a plurality of blocks of received data symbols for a data packet;
• a controller operative to determine a modulation scheme used for each of the plurality of blocks, wherein at least two different modulation schemes are used for the plurality of blocks;
• a detector operative to perform detection on each of the plurality of blocks of received data symbols in accordance with the modulation scheme used for the block to generate detected data symbols for the block;
• and
• a decoder operative to decode detected data symbols generated from the plurality of blocks of received data symbols to obtain a decoded packet.

An apparatus in a communication system, comprising:

• means for obtaining a plurality of blocks of received data symbols for a data packet;
• means for determining a modulation scheme used for each of the plurality of blocks, wherein at least two different modulation schemes are used for the plurality of blocks;
• means for performing detection on each of the plurality of blocks of received data symbols in accordance with the modulation scheme used for the block to generate detected data symbols for the block;
• and
• means for decoding detected data symbols generated from the plurality of blocks of received data symbols to obtain a decoded packet.

A method of receiving data in a communication system, comprising:

• obtaining a block of received data symbols for a data packet;
• determining a modulation scheme used for the block of received data symbols;
• performing detection on the block of received data symbols in accordance with the modulation scheme to generate detected data symbols for the block, wherein each detected data symbol is an estimate of a modulation symbol for the data packet;
• decoding detected data symbols generated from all blocks of received data symbols obtained for the data packet to derive a decoded packet;
• and
• repeating the obtaining the block of received data symbols, the determining the modulation scheme used for the block, the performing detection on the block of received data symbols, and the decoding the detected data symbols for another block of received data symbols if the data packet is decoded in error and if a maximum number of blocks of received data symbols have not been obtained for the data packet, and wherein at least two different modulation schemes are used for the maximum number of blocks of received data symbols.