Methods and apparatus of providing transmit diversity in a multiple access wireless communication system

A method for providing channel diversity in a multiple access wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• transmitting a plurality of signals using a plurality of communication channels, wherein each of the plurality of communication channels has a physical characteristic that is detectable by a wireless terminal and each of the plurality of signals has a signal transmission characteristic;
• changing at least one signal transmission characteristic to modify the physical characteristic of at least one of the plurality of communication channels as received by the wireless terminal;
• receiving a feedback information from the wireless terminal wherein the feedback information is based on the modified physical characteristic;
• and
• selecting one of the plurality of communication channels based on the feedback information for use in transmission.

A method for facilitating channel diversity in a multiple access wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of signals from a plurality of communication channels having at least one physical characteristic modified by at least one signal transmission characteristic of the plurality of signals;
• measuring channel quality information based on the at least one physical characteristic of the plurality of communication channels, wherein the channel quality information comprises at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or a signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) relating to at least one of the plurality of communication channels;
• and
• transmitting the channel quality information to a base station, wherein the channel quality information is used to select one of the plurality of communication channels for use in transmission.

An apparatus for providing channel diversity in a multiple access wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

• means for transmitting a plurality of signals using a plurality of communication channels, wherein each of the plurality of communication channels has a physical characteristic that is detectable by a wireless terminal and each of the plurality of signals has a signal transmission characteristic;
• means for changing at least one signal transmission characteristic to modify the physical characteristic of at least one of the plurality of communication channels as received by the wireless terminal;
• means for receiving a feedback information from the wireless terminal wherein the feedback information is based on the modified physical characteristic;
• and
• means for selecting one of the plurality of communication channels based on the feedback information for use in transmission.

An apparatus for facilitating channel diversity in a multiple access wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving a plurality of signals from a plurality of communication channels having at least one physical characteristic modified by at least one signal transmission characteristic of the plurality of signals;
• means for measuring channel quality information based on the at least one physical characteristic of the plurality of communication channels, wherein the channel quality information comprises at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or a signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) relating to at least one of the plurality of communication channels;
• and
• means for transmitting the channel quality information to a base station, wherein the channel quality information is used to select one of the plurality of communication channels for use in transmission.

A base station for providing channel diversity in a multiple access wireless communication system, the base station comprising:

• a transmitter for transmitting a plurality of signals using a plurality of communication channels, wherein each of the plurality of communication channels has a physical characteristic that is detectable by a wireless terminal and each of the plurality of signals has a signal transmission characteristic;
• a processor coupled to the transmitter for changing at least one signal transmission characteristic to modify the physical characteristic of at least one of the plurality of communication channels as received by the wireless terminal;
• and
• a receiver coupled to the processor for receiving a feedback information from the wireless terminal wherein the feedback information is based on the modified physical characteristic;
• and
• wherein the processor selects one of the plurality of communication channels based on the feedback information for use in transmission.

A mobile terminal for facilitating channel diversity in a multiple access wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• a receiver for receiving a plurality of signals from a plurality of communication channels having at least one physical characteristic modified by at least one signal transmission characteristic of the plurality of signals;
• a processor coupled to the receiver for measuring channel quality information based on the at least one physical characteristic of the plurality of communication channels, wherein the channel quality information comprises at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or a signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) relating to at least one of the plurality of communication channels;
• and
• a transmitter for transmitting the channel quality information to a base station, wherein the channel quality information is used to select one of the plurality of communication channels for use in transmission.

A computer-readable medium storing a computer program, wherein execution of the computer program is for:

• transmitting a plurality of signals using a plurality of communication channels, wherein each of the plurality of communication channels has a physical characteristic that is detectable by a wireless terminal and each of the plurality of signals has a signal transmission characteristic;
• changing at least one signal transmission characteristic to modify the physical characteristic of at least one of the plurality of communication channels as received by the wireless terminal;
• receiving a feedback information from the wireless terminal wherein the feedback information is based on the modified physical characteristic;
• and
• selecting one of the plurality of communication channels based on the feedback information for use in transmission.

A computer-readable medium storing a computer program, wherein execution of the computer program is for:

• receiving a plurality of signals from a plurality of communication channels having at least one physical characteristic modified by at least one signal transmission characteristic of the plurality of signals;
• measuring channel quality information based on the at least one physical characteristic of the plurality of communication channels, wherein the channel quality information comprises at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or a signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) relating to at least one of the plurality of communication channels;
• and
• transmitting the channel quality information to a base station, wherein the channel quality information is used to select one of the plurality of communication channels for use in transmission.