Method and apparatus for providing antenna diversity

A method of generating a set of bits of a digital signal, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a plurality of N signals transmitted from N different antennas, where N is an integer, each signal representing one of N symbols of a codeword, the codeword based on a channel code having a plurality of codewords and a minimum Hamming distance, d.sub.min, where 2.ltoreq.d.sub.min .ltoreq.N, and wherein each of one or more of said plurality of codewords comprises at least two different symbols;
• based on the N received signals, forming N symbols of a received codeword sequence;
• comparing the received codeword sequence with one or more valid codewords to associate the received sequence with a valid codeword;
• and
• generating a set of bits based on the codeword associated with the received sequence.

A receiver for use in a communication system, the communication system including a transmitter comprising a plurality of N antennas, where N is an integer, the communication system communicating codewords of N symbols according to a channel code, the receiver comprising:

• means for receiving signals transmitted by the N antennas, each signal representing one of N symbols of a codeword, the codeword based on a channel code having a plurality of codewords and a minimum Hamming distance, d.sub.min, where 2.ltoreq.d.sub.min .ltoreq.N, and wherein each of one or more of said plurality of codewords comprises at least two different symbols;
• means, coupled to the means for receiving, for isolating a signal transmitted by each antenna;
• means, coupled to the means for isolating, for forming a sequence of N received signals based on the N isolated signals;
• means, coupled to the means for forming, for comparing the sequence of N received with one or more valid codewords to associate the sequence with a valid codeword;
• and
• means, coupled to the means for comparing, for generating a set of bits based on the codeword associated with the received sequence.