Coding scheme for a wireless communication system

A method for preparing data for transmission on a plurality of transmission channels comprising:

• identifying a modulation scheme for information bits such that a determined number of information bits per modulation symbol is supported for a plurality of spatial channels;
• selecting a coding rate based at least on the determined number of information bits per modulation symbol;
• encoding a plurality of information bits in accordance with a particular encoding scheme to provide a plurality of coded bits, wherein the encoding is achieved via a Turbo code, and wherein the Turbo code includes two constituent codes operative to provide at least two streams of parity bits;
• and
• puncturing at least one of the parity bits in accordance with a particular puncturing scheme to achieve the selected coding rate for the plurality of spatial channels,
• wherein the puncturing comprises puncturing the at least one of the parity bits to achieve a different coding rate for at least two transmission channels of the plurality of transmission channels, and wherein the puncturing is performed such that approximately equal numbers of the parity bits are deleted from the at least two streams of the parity bits.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for identifying a modulation scheme for information bits such that a determined number of information bits per modulation symbol is supported for a plurality of spatial channels;
• means for selecting a coding rate based at least on the determined number of information bits per modulation symbol;
• means for encoding a plurality of information bits in accordance with a particular encoding scheme to provide a plurality of coded bits, wherein encoding is achieved via a Turbo code, and wherein the Turbo code includes two constituent codes operative to provide at least two streams of parity bits;
• and
• means for puncturing at least one of the parity bits in accordance with a particular puncturing scheme to achieve the selected coding rate for the plurality of spatial channels, wherein puncturing is performed such that approximately equal numbers of the parity bits are deleted from the at least two streams of the parity bits.

A method for preparing data for transmission on a plurality of transmission channels comprising:

• determining an indication of channel quality for at least two transmission channels;
• identifying a modulation scheme for each of said two transmission channels based on the respective indication of channel quality for said two transmission channels;
• selecting a coding rate for each of said two transmission channels based on the respective indication of channel quality for said two transmission channels;
• encoding a plurality of information bits in accordance with a particular encoding scheme to provide a plurality of coded bits, wherein the encoding is achieved via a Turbo code, and wherein the Turbo code includes two constituent codes operative to provide at least two streams of parity bits;
• and
• puncturing at least one of the parity bits in accordance with a particular puncturing scheme to achieve the selected coding rate for each of said two transmission channels, wherein the puncturing is performed such that approximately equal numbers of the parity bits are deleted from the at least two streams of the parity bits.