Selective harq combining scheme for ofdm/ofdma systems

An apparatus for wireless communication with a hybrid automatic repeat-request (HARQ) mechanism, comprising:

• means for storing signal data for a previously received HARQ transmission having an incorrect decoded message;
• first means for generating HARQ combined signal data at a first location along a receiver processing path;
• second means for generating the HARQ combined signal data at a second location along the reception processing path downstream of the first location;
• and
• means for selecting one of the first and second means for use in generating the HARQ combined signal data based on the signal data for the previously received HARQ transmission having the incorrect decoded message and signal data for a currently received HARQ transmission.

A mobile device, comprising:

• a receiver front end for receiving a current hybrid automatic repeat-request (HARQ) transmission;
• at least one buffer for storing signal data for a previously received HARQ transmission having an incorrect decoded message;
• a first combiner at a first location along a receiver processing path;
• a second combiner at a second location along the receiver processing path downstream of the first location;
• and
• control logic configured to select one of the first and second combiners for use in generating HARQ combined signal data based on signal data for the current HARQ transmission and the signal data for the previously received HARQ transmission having the incorrect decoded message.

A computer-program product for wireless communication with a hybrid automatic repeat-request (HARQ) mechanism comprising a computer readable medium having a set of instructions stored thereon, the set of instructions being executable by one or more processors and the set of instructions comprising:

• instructions for storing signal data for a previously received HARQ transmission having an incorrect decoded message;
• first instructions for generating HARQ combined signal data at a first location along a receiver processing path;
• second instructions for generating the HARQ combined signal data at a second location along the reception processing path downstream of the first location;
• and
• instructions for selecting one of the first and second instructions for use in generating the HARQ combined signal data based on the signal data for the previously received HARQ transmission having the incorrect decoded message and signal data for a currently received HARQ transmission.