Rate control for multi-channel communication systems

In a multi-channel communication system, a method for determining a rate for a data transmission over a wireless communication channel, comprising:

• identifying a group of transmission channels to be used for the data transmission;
• obtaining an estimated signal-to-noise-and-interference ratio (SNR) of each transmission channel;
• estimating spectral efficiency of each transmission channel based on the estimated SNR for the transmission channel;
• determining an average spectral efficiency of the transmission channels based on estimated spectral efficiencies of the transmission channels;
• determining an equivalent SNR for an equivalent system with a spectral efficiency equal to the average spectral efficiency of the transmission channels;
• determining a required SNR to support a particular data rate by the communication system;
• and
• determining whether the particular rate is supported by the transmission channels for the data transmission based on the equivalent SNR and the required SNR.

In a multi-channel communication system, a method for determining a set of rates for a set of data streams to be transmitted over a wireless communication channel, comprising:

• identifying a group of transmission channels to be used for each data stream;
• defining an equivalent system for each transmission channel group based on one or more estimated channel characteristics of the transmission channels in the group;
• deriving a metric for each transmission channel group based on the associated equivalent system;
• and
• determining a rate for each data stream based on the metric associated with the data stream.

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

• identify a plurality of transmission channels to be used for the data transmission;
• define an equivalent system for the transmission channels based on one or more estimated channel characteristics of the transmission channels;
• derive a metric for the transmission channels based on the equivalent system;
• and
• determine a particular rate for the data transmission based on the metric.

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

• a channel estimator operative to derive estimates of one or more characteristics of a plurality of transmission channels;
• and
• a rate selector operative to
• define an equivalent system based on the one or more estimated channel characteristics of the transmission channels,
• derive a metric for the transmission channels based on the equivalent system, and
• determine a particular rate for the data transmission based on the metric.

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

• means for identifying a plurality of transmission channels to be used for the data transmission;
• means for defining an equivalent system based on one or more estimated channel characteristics of the transmission channels;
• means for deriving a metric for the transmission channels based on the equivalent system;
• and
• means for determining a particular rate for the data transmission based on the metric.

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

• a controller operative to identify a rate to use for a data transmission over a plurality of transmission channels in a wireless communication channel, wherein the rate is determined based on an equivalent system defined for the transmission channels based on one or more estimated channel characteristics of the transmission channels;
• a transmit data processor operative to code data, provided at the identified rate, in accordance with a particular coding scheme to provide coded data;
• and
• a modulator operative to modulate the coded data in accordance with a particular modulation scheme to provide modulated data.

An apparatus in a wireless communication system, comprising:

• means for identifying a rate to use for a data transmission over a plurality of transmission channels in a wireless communication channel, wherein the rate is determined based on an equivalent system defined for the transmission channels based on one or more estimated channel characteristics of the transmission channels;
• means for coding data, provided at the identified rate, in accordance with a particular coding scheme to provide coded data;
• and
• means for modulating the coded data in accordance with a particular modulation scheme to provide modulated data.

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

• a controller operative to identify a set of rates for a set of data streams to be transmitted over a wireless communication channel, wherein the rate for each data stream is determined based on an equivalent system defined for a group of transmission channels used for the data stream, and wherein the equivalent system for each transmission channel group is defined based on one or more estimated channel characteristics of the transmission channels in the group;
• at least one transmit data processor operative to code each data stream, provided at the identified rate, in accordance with a coding scheme selected for the data stream to provide a corresponding coded data stream;
• and
• at least one modulator operative to modulate each coded data steam in accordance with a modulation scheme selected for the data stream to provide a corresponding modulation stream.

A multi-channel communication system comprising:

• a receiver unit including
• a channel estimator operative to derive estimates of one or more characteristics of a plurality of transmission channels, and
• a rate selector operative to define an equivalent system based on the one or more estimated channel characteristics of the transmission channels, derive a metric for the transmission channels based on the equivalent system, and determine a particular rate for the data transmission based on the metric;
• and
• a transmitter unit including
• at least one transmit data processor operative to code data, provided at the determined rate, in accordance with a coding scheme to provide coded data, and
• at least one modulator operative to modulate the coded data in accordance with a modulation scheme to provide modulated data.