Wireless communication system with configurable cyclic prefix length

A method of transmitting data in a wireless communication system, comprising:

• determining expected coverage areas for a plurality of transmissions to be sent in a plurality of time slots;
• selecting cyclic prefix lengths for the plurality of transmissions based on the expected coverage areas;
• selecting a staggered pilot from among a plurality of staggered pilots based on the expected coverage areas;
• processing the plurality of transmissions based on the selected cyclic prefix lengths;
• and
• processing the selected staggered pilot.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for determining expected coverage areas for a plurality of transmissions to be sent in a plurality of time slots;
• means for selecting cyclic prefix lengths for the plurality of transmissions based on the expected coverage areas;
• means for selecting a staggered pilot from among a plurality of staggered pilots based on the expected coverage areas;
• means for processing the plurality of transmissions based on the selected cyclic prefix lengths;
• and
• means for processing the selected staggered pilot.

A method of transmitting data in a wireless communication system, comprising:

• selecting a cyclic prefix length for a data transmission from among a plurality of cyclic prefix lengths based on a maximum expected delay spread for the data transmission;
• selecting a staggered pilot from among a plurality of staggered pilots based on the maximum expected delay spread;
• processing the data transmission based on the selected cyclic prefix length;
• and
• processing the selected staggered pilot.

An apparatus comprising:

• a controller to receive signaling for at least one cyclic prefix length selected for at least one transmission sent in at least one time slot, wherein the at least one cyclic prefix length is selected based on an expected coverage area for the at least one transmission;
• a demodulator to receive and process the at least one transmission based on the at least one cyclic prefix length;
• a channel estimator to receive a staggered pilot transmitted with the at least one transmission and to derive a channel estimate based on the received staggered pilot, wherein the staggered pilot is selected based on the expected coverage area for the at least one transmission;
• and
• a detector to perform detection on the at least one transmission with the channel estimate.

A method of receiving data in a wireless communication system, comprising:

• receiving signaling for at least one cyclic prefix length selected for at least one transmission sent in at least one time slot, wherein the at least one cyclic prefix length is selected based on an expected coverage area for the at least one transmission;
• processing the at least one transmission based on the at least one cyclic prefix length;
• receiving a staggered pilot transmitted with the at least one transmission, wherein the staggered pilot is selected based on the expected coverage area for the at least one transmission;
• deriving a channel estimate based on the received staggered pilot;
• and
• performing detection on the at least one transmission with the channel estimate.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving signaling for at least one cyclic prefix length selected for at least one transmission sent in at least one time slot, wherein the at least one cyclic prefix length is selected based on expected coverage area for the at least one transmission;
• means for processing the at least one transmission based on the at least one cyclic prefix length;
• means for receiving a staggered pilot transmitted with the at least one transmission, wherein the staggered pilot is selected based on the expected coverage area for the at least one transmission;
• means for deriving a channel estimate based on the received staggered pilot;
• and
• means for performing detection on the at least one transmission with the channel estimate.

A computer-program product for transmitting data in a wireless communication system, the computer-program product comprising a computer-readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising:

• code for determining expected coverage areas for a plurality of transmissions to be sent in a plurality of time slots;
• code for selecting cyclic prefix lengths for the plurality of transmissions based on the expected coverage areas;
• code for selecting a staggered pilot from among a plurality of staggered pilots based on the expected coverage areas;
• code for processing the plurality of transmissions based on the selected cyclic prefix lengths;
• and
• code for processing the selected staggered pilot.