Superposition coding in a wireless communication system

An apparatus, comprising:

• means for compiling user candidates for superposition coding;
• means for ranking the user candidates based on a result of an evaluation function;
• means for selecting a deserving user candidate from among the user candidates;
• means for determining whether to generate a superposition coded packet based on a data rate requested by the deserving user candidate;
• and
• means for adding other user data packets to a packet of the deserving user candidate to generate the superposition coded packet in response to determining to generate the superposition coded packet,
• wherein the superposition coded packet comprises a first packet formatted in accordance with a first multiple access technique and at least one packet formatted in accordance with a second multiple access technique.

A computer readable non-transitory tangible medium storing instructions executable by a processor, the instructions comprising:

• instructions that are executable by the processor to compile user candidates for superposition coding;
• instructions that are executable by the processor to rank the user candidates based on a result of an evaluation function;
• instructions that are executable by the processor to select a deserving user candidate from among the user candidates;
• instructions that are executable by the processor to determine whether to generate a superposition coded packet based on a data rate requested by the deserving user candidate;
• and
• instructions that are executable by the processor to add other user data packets to a packet of the deserving user candidate to generate the superposition coded packet in response to determining to generate the superposition coded packet,
• wherein the superposition coded packet comprises a first packet formatted in accordance with a first multiple access technique and at least one packet formatted in accordance with a second multiple access technique.

An apparatus comprising:

• a processor configured to compile user candidates for superposition coding, to rank the user candidates based on a result of an evaluation function, to select a deserving user candidate from among the user candidates, and to determine whether to generate a superposition coded frame based on a data rate requested by the deserving user candidate;
• and
• a summer to add other user data packets to a packet of the deserving user candidate to generate a superposition coded packet in response to determining to generate the superposition coded frame,
• wherein the superposition coded packet comprises a first packet formatted in accordance with a first multiple access technique and at least one packet formatted in accordance with a second multiple access technique.

A method comprising:

• receiving a packet;
• reading a preamble;
• determining from the preamble whether the packet is a superposition coded packet;
• and
• processing the superposition coded packet at a processor in response to determining that the packet is a superposition coded packet,
• wherein the superposition coded packet comprises a first packet formatted in accordance with a first multiple access technique and at least one packet formatted in accordance with a second multiple access technique.

An apparatus, comprising:

• means for receiving a packet;
• means for reading a preamble;
• means for determining from the preamble whether the received packet is a superposition coded packet, wherein the superposition coded packet comprises a first packet formatted in accordance with a first multiple access technique and at least one packet formatted in accordance with a second multiple access technique;
• and
• means for processing the superposition coded packet in response to determining the packet is the superposition coded packet.

A computer readable non-transitory tangible medium storing instructions executable by a processor, the instructions comprising:

• instructions that are executable by the processor to receive a packet;
• instructions that are executable by the processor to read a preamble;
• instructions that are executable by the processor to determine from the preamble whether the packet is a superposition coded packet;
• and
• instructions that are executable by the processor to process the superposition coded packet at a processor in response to determining that the packet is a superposition coded packet,
• wherein the superposition coded packet comprises a first packet formatted in accordance with a first multiple access technique and at least one packet formatted in accordance with a second multiple access technique.

A method comprising:

• at a base station:
• compiling user candidates for superposition coding;
• ranking the user candidates based on a result of an evaluation function;
• selecting a deserving user candidate from among the user candidates;
• determining whether to generate a superposition coded frame based on the data rate requested by the deserving user candidate;
• adding other user data packets to a packet of the deserving user candidate to generate a superposition coded packet in response to determining to generate the superposition coded frame;
• and
• transmitting the superposition coded packet to multiple users including the deserving user candidate,
• wherein the superposition coded packet comprises a first packet formatted in accordance with a first multiple access technique and at least one packet formatted in accordance with a second multiple access technique.