Method and apparatus for transmission of uplink control signaling and user data in a single carrier orthogonal frequency division multiplexing communication system

A user equipment capable of operating in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing communication system wherein a frequency bandwidth comprises a plurality of frequency sub-carriers, the user equipment comprising:

• a processor configured to implement a module that receives user data non-associated control signaling and user data associated control signaling, wherein the one or more of user data non-associated control signaling and user data-associated control signaling comprises a plurality of control fields and wherein the processor is configured to receive user data non-associated control signaling and user data-associated control signaling by jointly coding the plurality of control fields to produce a single codeword and receiving the single codeword by applying a repetition factor to the single codeword to produce the single codeword with redundancy and receive the single codeword by receiving the single codeword with redundancy, receives user data, and multiplexes the user data non-associated control signaling and user data associated control signaling into the user data stream by puncturing the user data non-associated control signaling and user data associated control signaling onto the user data stream to produce a data stream, wherein the user data non-associated control signaling and user data stream are conveyed in the same frequency and time slots;
• and
• a transmitter coupled to the processor, wherein the processor arranges for a transmission of the data stream via the transmitter and an air interface.