Method and apparatus for processing data for transmission in a multi-channel communication system using selective channel transmission

A method for controlling data transmission in a multi-channel communication system, comprising:

• receiving a plurality of transmissions from a transmitter via a plurality of transmission channels;
• estimating characteristics of the plurality of transmission channels based on the received transmissions;
• selecting one or more transmission channels for use for data transmission and corresponding coding and modulation scheme based on the estimated channel characteristics;
• and
• sending channel state information (CSI) to the transmitter indicating the one or more selected transmission channels and the corresponding coding and modulation scheme, and wherein total transmit power available for the plurality of transmission channels is allocated amongst the one or more selected transmission channels in accordance with a defined allocation scheme, and wherein data is transmitted over each selected transmission channel based on the allocated transmit power.

In a multi-channel communication system, a method for selecting transmission channels for use for data transmission, comprising:

• defining a set of code rates, wherein each code rate is selectable for coding data prior to transmission;
• defining a set of setpoints, wherein each setpoint corresponds to a respective code rate and is indicative of a target signal-to-noise-plus-interference ratio (SNR) required for a particular level of performance at the corresponding code rate;
• for each code rate,
• identifying one or more transmission channels for possible use for data transmission, wherein the one or more identified transmission channels achieve the setpoint corresponding to the code rate when total available transmit power is distributed amongst the one or more identified transmission channels in accordance with a defined allocation scheme, and
• selecting the identified transmission channels associated with the code rate having a highest performance in accordance with one or more performance criteria for use for data transmission.

A receiver unit in a multi-channel communication system, comprising:

• a receive data processor operative to process a plurality of transmissions received via a plurality of transmission channels and to estimate characteristics of the plurality of transmission channels based on the processed transmissions;
• a controller coupled to the receive data processor and operative to select, based on the estimated channel characteristics, one or more transmission channels for use for data transmission;
• and
• a transmit data processor coupled to the controller and operative to transmit channel state information (CSI) for the plurality of transmission channels indicating the one or more selected transmission channels, and
• wherein total transmit power available for the plurality of transmission channels is allocated amongst the one or more selected transmission channels in accordance with a defined allocation scheme, and wherein data is transmitted to the receiver unit over each selected transmission channel based on the allocated transmit power.