Data transmission with non-uniform distribution of data rates for a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system

A method for determining data rates for a plurality of data streams to be transmitted over a plurality of transmit antennas in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, comprising:

• determining an operating signal-to-noise-and-interference ratio (SNR) indicative of an operating condition of the MIMO system;
• determining a required SNR for each of a plurality of data rates to be used for the plurality of data streams, wherein at least two of the data rates are unequal and wherein the plurality of data rates are selected to achieve a specified overall spectral efficiency;
• determining an effective SNR for each of the plurality of data streams based on the operating SNR and successive interference cancellation processing technique at a receiver to recover the plurality of data streams;
• comparing the required SNR for each data stream against the effective SNR for the data stream;
• and
• determining whether or not the plurality of data rates are supported based on results of the comparing.

A method for determining data rates for a plurality of data streams to be transmitted via a plurality of transmission channels in a multi-channel communication system, comprising:

• determining a received SNR indicative of an operating condition of the plurality of transmission channels;
• determining an effective SNR for each of the plurality of data streams based on the received SNR and successive interference cancellation processing at a receiver to recover the plurality of data streams;
• and
• determining a data rate for each data stream based on the effective SNR for the data stream, wherein at least two of the data rates are unequal.

A memory communicatively coupled to a digital signal processing device (DSPD) capable of interpreting digital information to:

• determine a required signal-to-noise-and-interference ratio (SNR) for each of a plurality of data rates to be used for a plurality of data streams to be transmitted via a plurality of transmission channels in a multi-channel communication system, wherein at least two of the data rates are unequal;
• determine an effective SNR for each of the plurality of data streams based in part on successive interference cancellation processing at a receiver to recover the plurality of data streams;
• compare the required SNR for each data stream against the effective SNR for the data stream;
• and
• determine whether or not the plurality of data rates are supported based on results of the comparison.

An apparatus in a multi-channel communication system, comprising:

• means for determining a required signal-to-noise-and-interference ratio (SNR) for each of a plurality of data rates to be used for a plurality of data streams to be transmitted via a plurality of transmission channels, wherein at least two of the data rates are unequal;
• means for determining an effective SNR for each of the plurality of data streams based in part on successive interference cancellation processing at a receiver to recover the plurality of data streams;
• means for comparing the required SNR for each data stream against the effective SNR for the data stream;
• and
• means for determining whether or not the plurality of data rates are supported based on results of the comparing.

A transmitter unit in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, comprising:

• a controller operative to determine a plurality of data rates for a plurality of data streams to be transmitted over a plurality of transmit antennas by
• determining a required signal-to-noise-and-interference ratio (SNR) for each of the plurality of data rates, wherein at least two of the data rates are unequal,
• determining an effective SNR for each of the plurality of data streams based in part on successive interference cancellation processing technique at a receiver to recover the plurality of data streams,
• comparing the required SNR for each data stream against the effective SNR for the data stream, and
• determining whether or not the plurality of data rates are supported based on results of the comparing;
• a transmit (TX) data processor operative to process each data stream with the determined data rate to provide a respective symbol stream;
• and
• one or more transmitters operative to process a plurality of symbol streams for the plurality of data streams to provide a plurality of modulated signals suitable for transmission over the plurality of transmit antennas.

A transmitter apparatus in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, comprising:

• means for determining a required signal-to-noise-and-interference ratio (SNR) for each of a plurality of data rates to be used for a plurality of data streams to be transmitted over a plurality of transmit antennas in the MIMO system, wherein at least two of the data rates are unequal;
• means for determining an effective SNR for each of the plurality of data streams based in part on successive interference cancellation processing at a receiver to recover the plurality of data streams;
• means for comparing the required SNR for each data stream against the effective SNR for the data stream;
• means for determining whether or not the plurality of data rates are supported based on results of the comparison;
• means for processing each data stream to provide a respective symbol stream;
• and
• means for processing a plurality of symbol streams for the plurality of data streams to provide a plurality of modulated signals suitable for transmission over the plurality of transmit antennas.

A receiver unit in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, comprising:

• a receive (RX) MIMO processor operative to receive and process a plurality of received symbol streams using successive interference cancellation processing to provide a plurality of detected symbol streams for a plurality of transmitted data streams, one detected data stream for each stage of the successive interference cancellation processing;
• and
• a RX data processor operative to process each detected symbol stream to provide a corresponding decoded data stream, and
• wherein data rates for the plurality of transmitted data streams are determined by determining a received signal-to-noise-and-interference ratio (SNR) indicative of an operating condition of the communication system, determining an effective SNR for each of the plurality of data streams based on the received SNR and the successive interference cancellation processing, and determining the data rate for each data stream based on the effective SNR, and wherein at least two of the data rates are unequal.