Method and apparatus for data aided channel quality estimation

An apparatus for estimating channel quality in a wireless communication system, comprising:

• a pilot noise estimator configured to estimate a pilot noise variance based on a pilot signal received from a base station on a downlink;
• a data noise estimator configured to estimate a data noise variance based on a data signal received from the base station on the downlink;
• a noise combiner configured to combine the pilot noise variance and the data noise variance independent of amplitudes of the pilot signal and the data signal to obtain a combined noise variance;
• and
• a channel quality estimator configured to estimate the channel quality based on the combined noise variance.

An apparatus for estimating channel quality in a wireless communication system, comprising:

• means for estimating a pilot noise variance based on a pilot signal received from a base station on a downlink;
• means for estimating a data noise variance based on a data signal received from the base station on the downlink;
• means for combining the pilot noise variance and the data noise variance independent of amplitudes of the pilot signal and the data signal to obtain a combined noise variance;
• and
• means for estimating the channel quality based on the combined noise variance.

A computer-program product for wireless communication, comprising:

• non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising codes executable by at least one computer to:
• estimate a pilot noise variance based on a pilot signal received from a base station on a downlink;
• estimate a data noise variance based on a data signal received from the base station on the downlink;
• combine the pilot noise variance and the data noise variance independent of amplitudes of the pilot signal and the data signal to obtain a combined noise variance;
• and
• estimate the channel quality based on the combined noise variance.