# US 2014/0192847 A1 · Rate adaptation for data communication > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0192847 A1 - Document ID: US20140192847A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/738,612 - Filed: 2013-01-10 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-10 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Applicants: Qualcomm Incorporated - Inventors: Hassan Afkhami; Purva R. Rajkotia; Manjunath Anandarama Krishnam - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192847A1 ## CPC - H04B 3/542: {the information being in digital form} - H04L 1/0003: {by switching between different modulation schemes} - H04L 1/0009: {by adapting the channel coding (H04L1/1812 takes precedence)} - H04L 1/0033: {arrangements specific to the transmitter} - H04L 27/2605: {Symbol extensions, e.g. Zero Tail, Unique Word [UW]} - H04L 27/2646: {using feedback from receiver for adjusting OFDM transmission parameters, e.g. transmission timing or guard interval length} - H04B 1/719: Interference-related aspects - H04B 3/46: Monitoring; Testing - H04B 7/18532: {Arrangements for managing transmission, i.e. for transporting data or a signalling message} - H04B 2203/5408: using protocols - H04L 5/0064: {Rate requirement of the data, e.g. scalable bandwidth, data priority} - Y02D 30/50: in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract In some embodiments, a method includes receiving, at a first device via a channel of a communication medium, multiple data transmissions, wherein a code rate of multiple code rates is associated with each data transmission of the multiple data transmissions. The method includes determining, based on signal characteristics of the multiple data transmissions, the data transmission from among the multiple data transmissions having a preferred physical data rate. The method also includes setting a code rate for the channel for communication from a second device to the first device via the communication medium, to the code rate of the data transmission having the preferred physical data rate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving, at a first device via a channel of a communication medium, multiple data transmissions, wherein a code rate of multiple code rates is associated with each data transmission of the multiple data transmissions; determining, based on signal characteristics of the multiple data transmissions, the data transmission from among the multiple data transmissions having a preferred physical data rate; and setting a code rate for the channel for communication from a second device to the first device via the communication medium, to the code rate of the data transmission having the preferred physical data rate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the channel is within a number of channels in the communication medium for communication, wherein the setting of the code rate for the channel is performed independent of setting a code rate for other channels within the number of channels in the communication medium for communication. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the code rate for the channel is different than a code rate of at least one other channel within the number of channels. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the multiple data transmissions comprise data packets. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the communication medium comprises a power line. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, at the first device back to the second device, a notification of the code rate for subsequent data transmissions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a noise variability of the data transmission having the preferred physical data rate at a receiver of the first device; and in response to the noise variability being above a first high noise threshold, adjusting the code rate to be a first fraction of the code rate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising: in response to the noise variability being above a second high noise threshold that is greater than the first high noise threshold, adjusting the code rate to be a second fraction of the code rate, wherein the second fraction is greater than the first fraction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the preferred physical data rate comprises a highest physical data rate. ### Claim 10 A method comprising: receiving, at a first device via a channel of a communication medium, a data transmission, wherein a code rate is associated with the data transmission; determining a value of at least one signal characteristic of the data transmission, wherein the at least one signal characteristic comprises a physical data rate, an amount of modulation on the channel, a number of carrier frequencies for a level of modulation on the channel, and an error rate of the data transmission; responsive to the value of the at least one signal characteristic being below a low signal characteristic threshold, adjusting the code rate lower for subsequent data transmissions from a second device to the first device via the channel; and responsive to the value of the at least one signal characteristic being above a high signal characteristic threshold, adjusting the code rate higher for subsequent data transmissions from the second device to the first device via the channel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: determining a noise variability of the data transmission at a receiver of the first device; and in response to the noise variability being above a first high noise threshold, adjusting the code rate to be a first fraction of the code rate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: in response to the noise variability being above a second high noise threshold that is greater than the first high noise threshold, adjusting the code rate to be a second fraction of the code rate, wherein the second fraction is greater than the first fraction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the channel is within a number of channels in the communication medium for communication, wherein the adjusting of the code rate for the channel is performed independent of setting a code rate for other channels within the number of channels in the communication medium for communication. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the code rate for the channel is different than a code rate of at least one other channel within the number of channels. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting, from the first device back to the second device, a notification of the code rate for subsequent data transmissions. ### Claim 16 An apparatus comprising: a network interface configured to receive, via a channel of a communication medium, multiple data transmissions, wherein a code rate of multiple code rates is associated with each data transmission of the multiple data transmissions; a PHY rate detection unit communicatively coupled to the network interface, the PHY rate detection unit configured to determine, based on signal characteristics of the multiple data transmissions, the data transmission from among the multiple data transmissions having a preferred physical data rate; and a code rate selection unit configured to set a code rate for the channel for communication from a different apparatus via the channel of the communication medium, to the code rate of the data transmission having the preferred physical data rate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the channel is within a number of channels in the communication medium for communication, wherein the setting of the code rate for the channel is performed independent of setting a code rate for other channels within the number of channels in the communication medium for communication. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the code rate for the channel is different than a code rate of at least one other channel within the number of channels. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the multiple data transmissions comprise data packets. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the communication medium comprises a power line. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising: a noise detection unit configured to determine a noise variability of the data transmission having the preferred physical data rate at a receiver of the apparatus, wherein the code rate selection unit is further configured to: in response to the noise variability being above a first high noise threshold, adjust the code rate to be a first fraction of the code rate. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the code rate selection unit is further configured to: in response to the noise variability being above a second high noise threshold that is greater than the first high noise threshold, adjust the code rate to be a second fraction of the code rate, wherein the second fraction is greater than the first fraction. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the preferred physical data rate comprises a highest physical data rate. ### Claim 24 An apparatus comprising: a network interface configured to receive, via a channel of a communication medium, a data transmission, wherein a code rate is associated with the data transmission; a PHY rate detection unit communicatively coupled to the network interface, the PHY rate detection unit configured to determine a value of at least one signal characteristic of the data transmission, wherein the at least one signal characteristic comprises a physical data rate, an amount of modulation on the channel, a number of carrier frequencies for a level of modulation on the channel, and an error rate of the data transmission; and a code rate selection unit configured to: responsive to the value of the at least one signal characteristic being below a low signal characteristic threshold, adjust the code rate lower for subsequent data transmissions from a second device to the first device via the channel; and responsive to the value of the at least one signal characteristic being above a high signal characteristic threshold, adjust the code rate higher for subsequent data transmissions from the second device to the first device via the channel. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising: a noise detection unit configured to determine a noise variability of the data transmission at a receiver of the apparatus, wherein in response to the noise variability being above a first high noise threshold, the code rate selection unit is configured to adjust the code rate to be a first fraction of the code rate. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The apparatus of claim 25, the code rate selection unit is further configured to: in response to the noise variability being above a second high noise threshold that is greater than the first high noise threshold, adjust the code rate to be a second fraction of the code rate, wherein the second fraction is greater than the first fraction. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the channel is within a number of channels in the communication medium for communication, wherein the adjusting of the code rate for the channel is performed independent of setting a code rate for other channels within the number of channels in the communication medium for communication. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the code rate for the channel is different than a code rate of at least one other channel within the number of channels. ### Claim 29 A computer program product for data transmission, the computer program product comprising: a computer readable storage medium having computer usable program code embodied therewith, the computer usable program code comprising a computer usable program code configured to: receive, at a first device via a channel of a communication medium, multiple data transmissions, wherein a code rate of multiple code rates is associated with each data transmission of the multiple data transmissions; determine, based on signal characteristics of the multiple data transmissions, the data transmission from among the multiple data transmissions having a preferred physical data rate; and set a code rate for the channel for communication from a second device to the first device via the communication medium, to the code rate of the data transmission having the preferred physical data rate. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the channel is within a number of channels in the communication medium for communication, wherein the setting of the code rate for the channel is performed independent of setting a code rate for other channels within the number of channels in the communication medium for communication. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the code rate for the channel is different than a code rate of at least one other channel within the number of channels. ### Claim 32 (depends on 29) The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the computer usable program code is further configured to transmit, by the first device back to the second device, a notification of the code rate for subsequent data transmissions. ### Claim 33 (depends on 29) The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the computer usable program code is further configured to: determine a noise variability of the data transmission having the preferred physical data rate at a receiver of the first device; and in response to the noise variability being above a first high noise threshold, adjust the code rate to be a first fraction of the code rate. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the computer usable program code is further configured to: in response to the noise variability being above a second high noise threshold that is greater than the first high noise threshold, adjust the code rate to be a second fraction of the code rate, wherein the second fraction is greater than the first fraction. ### Claim 35 (depends on 29) The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the preferred physical data rate comprises a highest physical data rate. ### Claim 36 An apparatus comprising: means for receiving, via a channel of a communication medium, a data transmission, wherein a code rate is associated with the data transmission; means for determining a value of at least one signal characteristic of the data transmission, wherein the at least one signal characteristic comprises a physical data rate, an amount of modulation on the channel, a number of carrier frequencies for a level of modulation on the channel, and an error rate of the data transmission; means for adjusting the code rate lower for subsequent data transmissions from a second device to the first device via the channel, in response to the value of the at least one signal characteristic being below a low signal characteristic threshold, adjust the code rate lower for subsequent data transmissions from a second device to the first device via the channel; and means for adjusting the code rate higher for subsequent data transmissions from the second device to the first device via the channel, in response to the value of the at least one signal characteristic being above a high signal characteristic threshold, adjust the code rate higher for subsequent data transmissions from the second device to the first device via the channel. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising: means for determining a noise variability of the data transmission at a receiver of the apparatus; and means for adjusting the code rate to be a first fraction of the code rate, in response to the noise variability being above a first high noise threshold. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising: means for adjusting the code rate to be a second fraction of the code rate, wherein the second fraction is greater than the first fraction, in response to the noise variability being above a second high noise threshold that is greater than the first high noise threshold. ### Claim 39 (depends on 36) The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the channel is within a number of channels in the communication medium for communication, wherein the adjusting of the code rate for the channel is performed independent of setting a code rate for other channels within the number of channels in the communication medium for communication. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the code rate for the channel is different than a code rate of at least one other channel within the number of channels.