Performance based rank prediction for MIMO design

A wireless communications device, comprising:

• means for calculating MIMO channel matrices corresponding to layer transmissions for each tone;
• means for calculating signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) for each tone based on the MIMO channel matrices;
• means for mapping the SNRs for each tone to generate effective SNRs for each layer transmission;
• means for selecting a highest packet format (PF) with an SNR threshold less than the effective SNRs for each layer transmission;
• means for selecting an absolute highest PF of the selected highest PF for each layer transmission;
• means for selecting a rank based on the selected absolute highest PF;
• and
• means for transmitting a ranking to a transmitting side which indicates the layer transmissions to select for transmission so as to maximize spectral efficiency.

A processor programmed to execute a non-transitory computer-readable medium of a method of rank prediction to maximize spectral efficiency in a MIMO wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• calculating MIMO channel matrices corresponding to layer transmissions for each tone;
• calculating signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) for each tone based on the MIMO channel matrices;
• mapping the SNRs for each tone to generate effective SNRs for each layer transmission;
• selecting a highest packet format (PF) with an SNRs threshold less than the effective SNRs for each layer transmission;
• selecting an absolute highest PF of the selected highest PF for each layer transmission;
• selecting a rank based on the selected absolute highest PF;
• and
• transmitting a ranking to a transmitting side which indicates the layer transmissions to select for transmission so as to maximize spectral efficiency.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying instructions executable by a processor for providing a method of rank prediction to maximize spectral efficiency in a MIMO wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• calculating MINO channel matrices corresponding to layer transmissions for each tone;
• calculating signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) for each tone based on the MIMO channel matrices;
• mapping the SNRs for each tone to generate effective SNRs for each layer transmission;
• selecting a highest packet format (PF) with an SNR threshold less than the effective SNRs for each layer transmission;
• selecting an absolute highest PF of the selected highest PF for each layer transmission;
• selecting a rank based on the selected absolute highest PF;
• and
• transmitting a ranking to a transmitting side which indicates the layer transmissions to select for transmission so as to maximize spectral efficiency.

An apparatus for performing rank prediction, comprising:

• a plurality of receiving circuits for receiving calculated MIMO channel matrices corresponding to layer transmissions for each tone and calculating signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) for each tone based on the MIMO channel matrices;
• a plurality of capacity mappers, coupled to the plurality of receivers, for mapping the SNRs for each tone to generate effective SNRs for each layer transmission;
• at least one packet format (PF) selector, coupled to the plurality of capacity mappers, for selecting a highest PF with an SNR threshold less than the effective SNRs for each layer transmission;
• and
• a decision unit, coupled to the at least one PF selector, for selecting an absolute highest PF of the selected highest PF for each layer transmission, selecting a rank based on the selected absolute highest PF, and outputting the rank for forwarding to a transmitting side which indicates the layer transmissions to select for transmission so as to maximize spectral efficiency.