System and method for allocating transmission resources

A method for receiving user data and control information transmitted wirelessly over a plurality of transmission layers, comprising:

• receiving a plurality of vector symbols over a plurality of transmission layers, wherein the vector symbols carry user data codewords and control codewords;
• estimating a number of the vector symbols that have been allocated to user data codewords;
• determining a number of bits in a plurality of user data codewords carried by the vector symbols;
• determining a number of control vector symbols that have been allocated to control information based at least in part on the estimated number of vector symbols and the determined number of bits;
• and
• decoding the received vector symbols based on the determined number of control vector symbols.

A method of scheduling wireless transmissions over a plurality of transmission layers, comprising:

• receiving a scheduling request from a transmitter requesting use of transmission resources to transmit a plurality of vector symbols;
• determining a transmission rank, a total number of vector symbols to be used for user data and control information, and a number of bits of user data to be carried by each of the user data codewords, accounting, at least in part, for an estimated number of control vector symbols, wherein the estimated number of control vector symbols is determined by:
• estimating a number of user data vector symbols to be used in transmitting the user data codewords;
• estimating a number of bits in one or more control codewords to be transmitted, wherein the one or more control codewords comprise encoded control information;
• and
• determining the estimated number of control vector symbols to be used in transmitting the user data codewords based at least in part on the estimated number of user data vector symbols to be used in transmitting the user data codewords, the estimated number of bits in the one or more control codewords, and the number of bits of user data to be carried by each of the user data codewords;
• generating a response to the scheduling request based on the determined transmission rank, total number of vector symbols, and number of bits of each user data codeword;
• and
• transmitting the response to the transmitter.

An apparatus for wirelessly transmitting user data and control information using a plurality of transmission layers, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of antennas;
• a transmitter operable to transmit vector symbols over a plurality of transmission layers using the plurality of antennas;
• and
• a processor operable to:
• estimate a number of vector symbols to be allocated to transmission of user data codewords during a subframe;
• determine a number of bits in a plurality of user data codewords to be transmitted during the subframe;
• determine a number of control vector symbols to allocate to control information based at least in part on the estimated number of vector symbols and the determined number of bits;
• map one or more control codewords to the determined number of control vector symbols, wherein the one or more control codewords comprise encoded control information;
• and
• transmit vector symbols carrying the user data codewords and the control codewords over the plurality of transmission layers during the subframe.

A node for receiving user data and control information transmitted wirelessly over a plurality of transmission layers, the node comprising:

• a plurality of antennas;
• a receiver operable to transmit vector symbols over a plurality of transmission layers using the plurality of antennas;
• and
• a processor operable to:
• receive a plurality of vector symbols over a plurality of transmission layers using the receiver, wherein the vector symbols carry user data codewords and control codewords;
• estimate a number of the vector symbols that have been allocated to user data codewords;
• determine a number of bits in a plurality of user data codewords carried by the vector symbols;
• determine a number of control vector symbols that have been allocated to control information based at least in part on the estimated number of vector symbols and the determined number of bits;
• and
• decode the received vector symbols based on the determined number of control vector symbols.

A node for scheduling wireless transmissions over a plurality of transmission layers, the node comprising:

• a receiver operable to receive information from a wireless terminal;
• a transmitter operable to transmit information to the wireless terminal;
• and
• a processor operable to:
• receive a scheduling request from the wireless terminal using the receiver, the scheduling request requesting use of transmission resources to transmit a plurality of vector symbols;
• determine a transmission rank, a total number of vector symbols to be used for user data and control information, and a number of bits of user data to be carried by each of the user data codewords, accounting, at least in part, for an estimated number of control vector symbols, wherein the processor is operable to determine the estimated number of control vector symbols by:
• estimating a number of user data vector symbols to be used in transmitting the user data codewords;
• estimating a number of bits in one or more control codewords to be transmitted, wherein the one or more control codewords comprise encoded control information;
• and
• determining the estimated number of control vector symbols to be used in transmitting the user data codewords based at least in part on the estimated number of user data vector symbols to be used in transmitting the user data codewords, the estimated number of bits in the one or more control codewords, and the number of bits of user data to be carried by each of the user data codewords;
• generate a response to the scheduling request based on the determined transmission rank, total number of vector symbols, and number of bits of each user data codeword;
• and
• transmit the response to the wireless terminal using the transmitter.