Transmitter and method for transmitting information packets with incremental redundancy

A method for transmitting an information packet with incremental redundancy, comprising:

• encoding the information packet with an error correction code;
• forming a punctured packet and punctured bits from the encoded information packet;
• modulating the punctured packet and one or more punctured bits;
• transmitting the modulated punctured packet from a first antenna, over a first channel of a communication medium, to a receiver;
• and
• transmitting the modulated punctured bits from a second antenna, over a second channel of the communication medium, to the receiver, in response to a negative acknowledgement from the receiver;
• wherein said first and second antennas are positioned to provide the first and second channels with substantially independent fading characteristics.

A transmitter for transmitting an information packet with incremental redundancy, comprising:

• an error correction encoder for encoding the information packet with an error correction code, said encoder having a first output comprising a punctured packet and a second output comprising punctured bits;
• a modulator for modulating the punctured packet and one or more punctured bits;
• said modulated punctured packet and modulated punctured bits each having a frequency;
• a frequency up-convertor for converting the frequency of the modulated punctured packet to a first higher frequency, and for converting the frequency of the modulated punctured bits to a second higher frequency;
• wherein the first and second frequencies are selected to provide first and second channels having substantially independent fading characteristics;
• an antenna for transmitting the modulated punctured packet at the first higher frequency, over the first channel of the communication medium, to a receiver, and for transmitting the modulated punctured bits at the second higher frequency, over the second channel of the communication medium, to the receiver;
• and
• a controller for controlling the transmitter to modulate and transmit the punctured packet from the antenna at the first frequency, over the first channel of the communication medium, to the receiver;
• and, in response to a negative acknowledgement from the receiver, for controlling the transmitter to modulate and transmit the one or more punctured bits at the second higher frequency, over the second channel of the communication medium, to the receiver.

A method for transmitting an information packet with incremental redundancy, comprising:

• encoding the information packet with an error correction code;
• forming a punctured packet and punctured bits from the encoded information packet;
• modulating the punctured packet and one or more punctured bits, said modulated punctured packet and modulated punctured bits each having a frequency;
• converting the frequency of the modulated punctured packet to a first higher frequency and converting the frequency of the one or more modulated punctured bits to a second higher frequency;
• wherein the first and second frequencies are selected to provide first and second channels having substantially independent fading characteristics;
• transmitting the modulated punctured packet at the first higher frequency, over the first channel of the communication medium, to a receiver;
• and
• transmitting the modulated punctured bits at the second higher frequency, over the second channel of the communication medium, to the receiver, in response to a negative acknowledgement from the receiver.

A transmitter for transmitting an information packet with incremental redundancy, comprising:

• an error correction encoder for encoding the information packet with an error correction code, said encoder having a first output comprising a punctured packet and a second output comprising punctured bits;
• a modulator for modulating the punctured packet and one or more punctured bits;
• a multiplier for applying a first set of M fixed phase offsets to the modulated punctured packet, and a second set of M fixed phase offsets to the modulated punctured bits;
• said first and second sets of M fixed phase offsets selected to provide first and second channels having substantially independent fading characteristics;
• M antennas for transmitting the modulated punctured packet over the first channel of a communication medium, with the first set of M fixed phase offsets, to a receiver;
• and, for transmitting the modulated punctured bits over the second channel of the communication medium, with the second set of M fixed phase offsets, to the receiver;
• and
• a controller for controlling the transmitter to modulate and transmit the punctured packet with the first set of M fixed phase offsets from the M antennas, over the first channel, to the receiver;
• and, in response to a negative acknowledgment from the receiver, for further controlling the transmitter to modulate and transmit the one or more punctured bits with the second set of M fixed phase offsets from the M antennas, over the second channel, to the receiver.

A method for transmitting an information packet with incremental redundancy, comprising:

• encoding the information packet with an error correction code;
• forming a punctured packet and punctured bits from the encoded information packet;
• modulating the punctured packet and one or more punctured bits;
• applying a first set of M fixed phase offsets to the modulated punctured packet, and a second set of M fixed phase offsets to the modulated punctured bits;
• said first and second sets of M fixed phase offsets selected to provide first and second channels having substantially independent fading characteristics;
• transmitting the modulated punctured packet over the first channel of a communication medium, from M antennas, with the first set of M fixed phase offsets, to a receiver;
• and
• transmitting the modulated punctured bits over the second channel of the communication medium, from the M antennas, with the second set of M fixed phase offsets, to the receiver, in response to a negative acknowledgement from the receiver.