Header encoding for single carrier (SC) and/or orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) using shortening, puncturing, and/or repetition

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor to:
• scramble a plurality of header bits to generate a scrambled plurality of header bits;
• pad a plurality of pad bits to the scrambled plurality of header bits to generate a padded bit block;
• employ an low density parity check (LDPC) code to encode the padded bit block to generate a plurality of LDPC parity bits;
• generate a first sequence based on the scrambled plurality of header bits and a first subset of the plurality of LDPC parity bits;
• generate a second sequence by XOR processing a third sequence, based on the scrambled plurality of header bits and a second subset of the plurality of LDPC parity bits, with a first pad sequence;
• generate a fourth sequence by XOR processing a fifth sequence, based on the scrambled plurality of header bits and a third subset of the plurality of LDPC parity bits, with a second pad sequence;
• concatenate the first sequence, the second sequence, and the third sequence to form a sixth sequence;
• map the sixth sequence as quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) and insert a plurality of pilot symbols to generate a seventh sequence;
• and
• modulate the seventh sequence as an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol;
• and
• a transmit driver to transmit the OFDM symbol or a signal corresponding to the OFDM symbol to at least one additional apparatus.

A method for operating a communication device, the method comprising:

• scrambling a plurality of header bits to generate a scrambled plurality of header bits;
• padding a plurality of pad bits to the scrambled plurality of header bits to generate a padded bit block;
• employing an low density parity check (LDPC) code to encode the padded bit block to generate a plurality of LDPC parity bits;
• generating a first sequence based on the scrambled plurality of header bits and a first subset of the plurality of LDPC parity bits;
• generating a second sequence by XOR processing a third sequence, based on the scrambled plurality of header bits and a second subset of the plurality of LDPC parity bits, with a first pad sequence;
• generating a fourth sequence by XOR processing a fifth sequence, based on the scrambled plurality of header bits and a third subset of the plurality of LDPC parity bits, with a second pad sequence;
• concatenating the first sequence, the second sequence, and the third sequence to form a sixth sequence;
• mapping the sixth sequence as quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) and insert a plurality of pilot symbols to generate a seventh sequence;
• and
• modulating the seventh sequence as an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol;
• and
• via an output of the communication device, transmitting the OFDM symbol or a signal corresponding to the OFDM symbol to at least one additional communication device.