WO2005099160A2

WO2005099160A2 - Systems and methods for implementing path diversity in a wireless communication network

Info

Publication number: WO2005099160A2
Application number: PCT/US2005/009221
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lakkis Ismail
Original assignee: Pulse-Link, Inc.
Priority date: 2004-03-25
Filing date: 2005-03-21
Publication date: 2005-10-20
Also published as: WO2005099160A3; US20050152483A1; US20080049827A1

Abstract

A method of communicating over a wideband communication channel divided into a plurality of sub-channels comprises dividing a single serial message intended for one of the plurality of communication devices into a plurality of parallel messages (2904), encoding (2906) each of the plurality of parallel messages onto at least some of the plurality of sub-channels, and transmitting (2908) the encoded plurality of parallel messages to the communication device over the wideband communication channel.

Description

SYS1ΕMS AND METHODS -FOR IMPLEM-ENTING PATH DIVERSITY IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK

BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION

1. Field of the --invention The invention relates generally to wireless communication and more particularly to systems and methods for wireless communication over a wide bandwidth channel using a plurality of sub-channels.

2. -Background Wireless communication systems are proliferating at the Wide Area Network (WAN), Local Area Network (LAN), and Personal Area Network (PAN) levels. These wireless communication systems use a variety of techniques to allow simultaneous access to multiple users. The most common of these techniques are Frequency -Division Multiple Access (FDMA), which assigns specific frequencies to each user, Time -Division Multiple Access (TDMA), which assigns particular time slots to each user, and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), which assigns specific codes to each user. -But these wireless communication systems and various modulation techniques are afflicted by a host of problems that limit the capacity and the quality of service provided to the users. The following paragraphs briefly describe a few of these problems for the purpose of illustration One problem that can exist in a wireless communication system is multipalh interference. Multipath interference, or multipalh, occurs because some of the energy in a transmitted wireless signal bounces oflf of obstacles, such as buildings or mountains, as it travels from source to destination The obstacles in effect create reflections of the transmitted signal and the more obstacles there are, the more reflections they generate. The reflections then travel along their own transmission paths to the destination (or receiver). The reflections will contain the same information as the original signal; however, because of the differing transmission path laigt-hs, the reflected signals will be out of phase with the original signal As a result, they will often combine destructively with the original signal in the receiver. This is referred to as fading. To combat fading, current systems typically try to estimate the multipalh effects and then compensate for them in the receiver using an equalizer. In practice, however, it is very difficult to achieve effective multipa-h compensation. A second problem that can affect the operation of wireless communication systems is interference from adjacent communication cells within the system. In -FDMA DMA s>stems, this type of interference is prevented through a frequency reuse plan Under a frequency reuse plan, available communication frequencies are allocated to communication cells within the communication system such t-hat the same frequency will not be used in adjacent cells. Essentially, the available fiequencies are split into groups. The number of groups is termed the reuse factor. Then the communication cells are grouped into clusters, each cluster containing the same number of cells as there are frequency groups. IΞach frequency group is then assigned to a cell in each cluster. Thus, if a frequency reuse factor of 7 is used, for example, then a particular communication frequency will be used only once in every seven communication cells. As a result, in any group of seven communication cells, each cell can only use lf^ of the available fiequencies, Le., each cell is only able to use l/ ¹ of the available bandwidth. In a CDMA communication system, each cell uses the same wideband communication channel In order to avoid interference with adjacent cells, each c-ommunication cell uses a particular set of spread spectrum codes to differentiate communications within the cell from those originating outside of the cell Thus, CDMA systems preserve the bandwidth in the sense that they avoid limitations inherent to conventional reuse planning. -But as will be discussed, there are other issues that limit the bandwidth in CDMA systems as well Thus, in overcoming interference, system bandwidth is often sacrificed. -Bandwidth is becoming a very valuable commodity as wireless communication systems continue to expand by adding more and more users. Therefore, trading off bandwidth for system performance is a costly, albeit necessary, proposition that is inherent in all wireless communication systems. The foregoing are just two examples of the types of problems that can affect conventional wireless communication systems. The examples also illustrate that there are many aspects of wireless communication system performance that can be improved tiΕOugh systons and methods uτal, for exarnp Not only are conventional wireless communication systems effected by problems, such as t-hose described in the preceding paragraphs, but also different types of systems are effected in different ways and to different degrees. Wireless communication systems can be split into t-hree types: 1) Kne-of-sight systems, which can include point-to-point or point-to- multipoint systems; 2) indoor non-line of sight systems; and 3) outdoor systems such as wireless WANs. -Line-of-sigjit systems are least affected by the problems described above, while indoor systems are more affected, due for example to signals bouncing off of building walls. Outdoor systems are by far tire most affected of the three systems. -Because these types of problems are limiting factors in the design of wireless tran≤-mitt-as and receivers, such designs must be tailored to the specific types of system in which it will operate. In practice, each type of system implements unique communication standards that address the issues unique to the particular type of system Even if an indoor system used the same communication protocols and modulation techniques as an outdoor system, for example, the receiver designs would still be different because multipath and other problems are unique to a given type of system and must be addressed with unique solutions. This would not necessarily be the case if cost efficient and effective methodologies can be developed to combat such problems as described above that build in programmability so that a device can be reconfigured for different types of systems and still maintain superior performance. SUMMARY OFTΗE INVENTION In order to combat the above problems, the systems and methods described herein provide a novel channel access technology that provides a cost efficient and effective methodology that builds in programmability so that a device can be reconfigured for different types of systems and still maintain superior performance. In one aspect of the invention, a method of communicating ova a vvidebard-communication channel divided into a plurality of sub-channels is provided. The method comprises dividing a single serial message intended for one of the plurality of communication devices into a plurality of parallel messages, encoding each of the plurality of parallel messages onto at least some of the plurality of sub-channels, and transmitti-ng the encoded plurality of parallel messages to the communication device over the wideband communication channel When symbols are restricted to particular range of values, the transmitters and receivers can be -amplified to el ninate high power consuming components such as a local oscillator, synthesizer and phase locked loops. Thus, in one aspect a transmitter comprises a plurality of pulse converters and differe-ntial amplifiers, to convert a balanced trinary data stream into a pulse sequence which can be filtered to reside in the desired frequency ranges and phase. The use of the balanced trinary data stream allows conventional components to be replaced by less costly, smaller components that consume less power. Similarly, in another aspect, a receiver comprises detection of the magnitude and phase of the symbols, which can be achieved with an envelope detector and sign detector respectively. Thus, conventional receiver components can be replaced by less costly, smaller components that consume less power. Other aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following Detailed Description ofPrefe red Embodiments, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTΗE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the present inventions taught herein are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagram i-Uustratirig an example embodiment of a wideband channel divided into a plurality of sub-channels in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the effects of multipalh in a wireless communication system; Figure 3 is a diagram i-Qustrating another example e bodimerit of a wideband communication channel divided into a plurality of sub-channels in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 is a diagram i-llustrating the application of a roll-off factor to the sub-channels of figures 1 , 2 and 3; Figure 5A is a diagram illustrating the assignment of sub-channels for a wideband communication channel in accordance with the invention; Figure 5B is a diagram illustrating the assignment of time slots for a wideband communication channel in accordance with fine invention; Figure 6 is a diagram i-Uustrating an example embodiment of a wireless communication in accordance with the invention; Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the use of synchronization codes in the wireless communication system of figure 6 in accordance with the invention; Figure 8 is a diagram iUustrating a correlator that can be used to correlate synchronization codes in the wireless communication system of figure 6;

Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating the cross-correlation properties of synchronization codes configured in accordance with the invention; Figure 11 is a diagram iUustrating another example embodiment of a wireless communication system in accordance with the invention; Figure 12A is a diagram illustrating how sub-channels of a wideband communication channel according to the present invention can be grouped in accordance with the present invention; Figure 12B is a diagram illustrating the assignment of the groups of sub-channels of figure 12A in accordance with the invention; Figure 13 is a diagram illustrating the group assignments of figure 12B in the time domain; Figure 14 is a flow chart illustrating the assignment of sub-channels based on SIR measurements in the wireless communication system of figure 11 in accordance with the invention; Figure 15 is a logical block diagram of an example embodiment of transmitter configured in axordance with the invention; Figure 16 is a logical block diagram of an example embodiment of a modulator configured in accordance with the present invention -for use in the transmitter of figure 15; Figure 17 is a diagram illustrating an example embodiment of a rate controller configured in accordance with the invention for use in ti e modulator of figure 16; Figure 18 is a diagram illustrating another example emlx- iment of a rate controller configured in accordance with the invention for use in the modulator of figure 16; Figure 19 is a diagram illustrating an example embodiment of a frequency encc σ configured mac∞^ the invention for use in the modulator of figure 16; Figure 20 is a logical block diagram of an example embodiment of a TDM/FDM block configured in accordance with the invention for use in the modulator of figure 16; Figure 21 is a logical block diagram of another example embodiment of a TDM/FDM block configured in accordance with the invention for use in the modulator of figure 16; Figure 22 is a logical block diagram of an example embodimerit of a frequency shifter configured in accordance with the invention for use in the mcidulator of figure 16; Figure 23 is a logical block diagram of a receiver configured in accordance with die invention; Figure 24 is a logical block diagram of an example embodiment of a demodulator configured in accordance with the invention for use in the receiver of figure -23; Figure 25 is a logical block diagram of an example embodiment of an equalizer configured in accordance with the present invention for use in the demodulator of figure -24; Figure 26 is a logical block diagram of an example embodiment of a wireless communication device configured in accordance with the invention; Figure 27 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary met-hod for recovering bandwidth in a wireless communication network in accordance with the invention; Figure 28 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary wireless communication network in which the met-hod of figure 27 can be implemented; Figure 29 is a logical block diagram illustrating an exemplary transmitter tiτal can be i-ised in the network of figure 28 to implement the method of figure 27; Figure 30 is a logical block diagram illustrating another exemplary transmitter t-hat can be used in the network of figure 28 to implement the method of figure 27; Figure 31 is a diagram illustrating another exemplary wireless communication network in which the method of figure 27 can be implemented; Figure 32 is a diagram illustrating an example receiver configured to implement path diversity, Figure 33 is a diagram illustrating correlated multipath signals received using the receiver of figure 33; and Figure ?34 is a diagram i-Uusfoating a receiver configured to implement switching diversity in accordance with the systems and methods described herein DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 1. Introduction In order to improve wireless communication system performance and allow a single device to move from one type of system to another, while still maintaining superior performance, the systems and methods described herein provide various communication methodologies that aihance perfomiance of tran-anitters and receivers with regard to various common problems that afflict such systems and that allow the t-ransmitters andor receivers to be reconfigured fcr in a variety of systems. Accordingly, the systems and methods described herein define a channel access protocol that uses a common wideband communication channel for all communication cells. The wideband channel, however, is then divided into a plurality of sub-channels. Different sub-channels are then assigned to one or more users within each cell ?But the base station, or service access point, within each cell trananits one message that occupies the entire bandwidth of the wideband channel Each user's communication device receives die entire message, but only decodes those portions of the message that reside in sub-channels assigned to the user. For a point-to-point system, for example, a single user may be assigned all sub-channels and, therefore, has the full wide band channel available to them. In a wireless WAN, on the other hand, the sub-channels may be divided among a plurality of users. In the descriptions of example embodiments that follow, implementation differences, or unique concerns, relating to different type* of systems will be pointed out to the extent possible. ?But it should be understood that the systems and methods described herein are applicable to any type of communication systems. In addition, terms such as communication cell, base station, service access point, etc. are used interchangeably to refer to the common aspects of networks at these different levels. To begin iUustrating the advantages of the systems and methods described herein, one can start by looking at the multipath effects for a single wideband communication channel 100 of bandwidth B as shown in figure 1A Ccmmunications sent over channel 100 in a traditional wireless communication system will comprise digital data symbols, or symbols, that are encoded and modulated onto a RF carrier t-hat is centered at frequency f_c and occupies bandwidth B. Generally, the width of the symbols (or the symbol duration) T is defined as 1/B. Thus, if the bandwidth B is equal to 100MHz, then the symbol duration Tis defined by the following equation: T= l/B = l/100MHZ= 10rvs. (1) When a receiver receives the communication, demodulates it, and then decodes it, it will recreate a stream 1 4 of datasymbols 106 as illustrated in figure 2. But the recdver will also rec vemult-i-palhversi^ -Because multipath data streams 108 are delayed in ώΗe relative to (-toa stream 104 by delays dl,d2,d3,ar d4, for example, they may combine destiuctively with data stream 104. A delay spread a is defined as the delay from reception of data stream 104 to the reception of the last multipath data stream 108 t-hat interferes with the reception of data stream 104. Thus, in the example illust-rated in figure 2, the delay spread ds is equal to delay d4. The delay spread d_s will vary for different environments. An environment with a lot of obstacles will create a lot of multipalh reflections. Thus, the delay spread will be longer. -Experiments have shown that for outdoor WAN type environments, the delay spread d_s can be as long as 20μs. Using the 10ns symbol duration of equation (1), this translates to 2000 symbols. Thus, with a very large bandwidth, such as 100MHz, multipath interference can cause a significant amount of interference at the symbol level for which adequate compensation is difficult to achieve. This is true even for indoor environments. For indoor -LAN type systems, the delay spread is -agπ-ficaπtly shorter, typically about 1 μs. For a 10ns symbol duration, this is equivalent to 100 symbols, which is rncrc manageable but st^significanL By segmenting the bandwidth B into a plurality of sub-channels 200, as illust-rated in figure 3, and generating a distinct data stream for each sub-channel the multipalh effect can be reduced to a much more manageable level For example, if the bandwidth B of each sub-channel 200 is 500K?Hz, then the symbol duration is 2μs. Thus, the delay spread d_s for each sub-channel is equivalent to only 10 symbols (outdoor) or half a symbol (indoor). Thus, by breaking up a message that occupies the entire bandwidth B into discrete messages, each occupying the bandwidth B of sub-channels 200, a very wideband signal that suffers tram relatively minor multipalh effects is created. -Before discussing further features and advantages of using a wideband communication channel segmented into a plurality of sub-channels as described, certain aspects of the sub-channels will be explained in more detail Referring back to figure 3, the overall bandwidth B is segmented into Nsub-charmels center at frequencies fo to fa. Thus, the sub-channel 200 that is immediately to the right of fc is offset from fc by b/2, where b is the bandwidth of each sub-channel 200. The next sub-channel 200 is oflset by 3b/2, the next by 5 b/2, and so on To the left of fc, each sub-channel 200 is offset by -b/s, -3b/s, - 5b/2, tc. -Preferably, sub-channels 200 are noil-overlapping as this allows each sub-channel to be processed independently in the receiver. To accomplish this, a roll-off factor is preferably applied to the signals in each sub-channel in a pulse-shaping step. The effect of such a pulse-shaping step is illustrated in figure 3 by the non-rectangular shape of the pulses in each sub-channel 200. Thus, the bandwidth B of each sub-channel can be represented by an equation such as the following: b = (l+ r) T; (2) Where r = the roll-off factor, and T= the symbol duration Without the roll-off factor, i.e., b = 1/T, the pulse shape would be rectangular in the frequency domain, which corresponds to a (sinx) x function in the timedomaπi The time domainsignal for a (sinx)ά signal 400 is shown in figure 4in order to illustrate the problems associated with a rectangu-^pu-te- φeandtheneedtousearoU-offfector. As can be seen, main lobe 402 comprises almost all of signal 400. -But some of the signal also resides in side lobes 404, which stretch out indefinitely in both directions from main lobe 402. Side lobes 404 make processing signal 400 much more difficult, which increases the complexity of the receiver. Applying a roll-off -factor r, as in equation (2), causes signal 400 to decay fester, reducing the number of side lobes 404. Thus, increasing the roll-off factor decreases the length of signal 400, i.e., signal 400 becomes shorter in time. ?But including the roll-off factor also decreases the available bandwidth in each sub-channel 200. Therefore, r must be selected so as to reduce the number of side lobes 404 to a sufficient number, e.g, 15, while still maximizing the available bandwidth in each sub-channel 200. Thus, the overall bandwidth E for communication channel 200 is given by the following equation: B =N(l+r)/T; (3) or B =MT; (4) Where M=(l+r)N. (5) For efficiency purposes related to transmitter design, it is preferable that r is chosen so that M in equation (5) is an integer. Choosing r so that Mis an integer allows for more efficient trananitters designs using, for example, Inverse Fast

Fourier Transform (IFF 1) techniques. Since =N+N(y, andNis always an intega-, this means that rmu-st be chosen so that N(r) is an intega. Generally, it is preferable for r to be between 0.1 and 0.5. Therefore, if N is 16, for example, then .5 could be selected for r so thatN(^ is an intega. A?ftematively,tfava-h-ιe for r is chosen in the al-x)vee an integer, E can be made slightly wider than MTto compensate. In this case, it is still preferable that rbe chosen so i aϊN(r) is approximately an intega.

2. -Example -Embodiment of a Wireless Communication System With the above in mind, figure 6 illustrates an example communication system 600 comprising a plurality of cells 602 that each use a common wideband communication channel to communicate with communication devices 604 wit-hin each cell 602. The common communication channel is a wideband communication charmel as clescribed above. Each communication cell 602 is defined as the coverage area of a base station, or service access point, 606 within the cell One such base station 606 is shown for illustration in figure 6. For purposes of this specification and the claims that follow, the term base station will be used generically to refer to a device that provides wireless access to the wireless communication system for a plurality of communication devices, whether the system is a line of sight, indoor, or outdoor system. -Because each cell 602 uses the same communication channel, signals in one cell 602 must be distinguis-hable from signals in adjacent cells 602. To differentiate signals fiom one cell 602 to another, adjacent base stations 606 use cϋffe-tent synchronization codes according to a code reuse plan In figure 6, system 600 uses a synchronization cαje reuse -factor of 4, although the reuse factor can vary depending on the application -Preferably, the synchronization code is periodically inserted into a communication fiom a base station 606 to a communication device 604 as illustrated in figure 7. Aftαapredete-miinedr imb ofdatapack^ particular synchronization code 704 is inserted into the information being transmitted by each base station 606. A synchronization code is a sequence of data bits known to both the base station 606 and any communication devices 604 with which it is ccmmunicating Ηiesync-hiOnizaticncodeaHows-juΛ that ofbase station 606, which, in turn, allowsdevice 604 to decode the data propaly. Thus,incell 1 (see lightly shaded cells 602 in figure 6), for example, synchronization code 1 (SYNC1) is inserted into data stream 706, which is generated by base station 606 in cell 1 , after every two packets 702; in cell 2 SYNC2 is inserted after every two pa ets 702; in cell 3 SYNCS is inserted; and in cell 4 SYNC4 is inserted. Use of the synchronization codes is discussed in more detail below. In figure 5 A, an example wideband communication channel 500 for use in communication system 600 is divided into 16 sub-channels 502, centered at frequencies fo to f^. A base station 606 at the center of each communication cell 602 trananits a single packet occupying the whole bandwidth E of wideband channel 500. Such a packet is illustrated by packet 504 in figure 5B. Packet 504 comprises sub-packets 506 that are encoded with a frequency offset corresponding to one of sub-channels 502. Sub-packets 506 in effect define available time slots in packet 504. Similarly, sub-channels 502 can be said to define available frequency bins in communication channel 500. Therefore, the resources available in communication cell 602 are time slots 506 and frequency bins 502, which can be assigned to different communication devices 604 wit-hin each cell 602. Thus, for example, frequency bins 502 and time slots 506 can be assigned to 4 different communication devices 604 within a cell 602 as shown in figure 5. -Each communication device 604 receives the entire packet 504, but only processes those frequency bins 502 and/or timeslots 506 that are assigned to . -Preferably, each device 604 is assigned non- adjacent frequency bins 502, as in figure 5. This way, if interference coπupts the information in a portion of communication channel 500, then the effects are read across all devices 604 within a cell 602. Hopefully, by spreading out the effects of

from the unaffected information received in other frequency bins. For example, if interference, such as fading, corrupted the information in bins fo-f*, then each user 14 loses one packet of data -But each user potentially receives three unaffected packets from the other bins assigned to them. Hopefully, the unaffected data in the other three bins provides enough information to recreate the entire message for each user. Thus, frequency diversity can be achieved by assigning non-adjacent bins to each of multiple users. -Ensuring that the bins assigned to one user are separated by mc»re than the cohe-re-rκ^ bandwidth ensures treφency diversity. As discussed above, the coherence bandwidth is approximately equal to 7/ . For outdoor systems, where ds is typically 1 μs, l/a = 1/1 μs = 1MHz. Thus, the non-adjacent frequency bands assigned to a user are preferably separated by at least 1 MHz. It can be even more preferable, however, ifthe coherence bandwidth plus some guard band to ensure sufficient frequency diversity separate the non-adjacent bins assigned to each user. For example, it is preferable in certain implementations to ensure t-hat at least 5 times the coherence bandwidth, or 5MHz in the above example, separates the non- adjacent bins. Another way to provide frequency diversity is to repeat blocks of data in fiequency bins assigned to a particular user that are separated by more than the cohereriee bandwidth. In otha words, if 4 sub-channels 200 are assigned to a user, then data block a can be repeated in the first and third -aιl->charmete 200 and data block b can te repealed sub-channels 202, provided the sub-channels are sufficiently ,-κparated m frequency. ?fo this case, the s>stem using a divasity length factor of 2. The system can similarly be configured to implement other diversity lengths, e.g., 3,4, ..., /. It should be noted that spatial diversity can also be included depending on the embodiment Spatial diversity can comprise trananit spatial divasity, receive spatial diversity, or both. In transmit spatial diversity, the transmitter uses a plurality of separate transmitters and a plurality of separate antennas to transmit each message. In other words, each transmitter transmits the same message in parallel The messages are then received from the transmitters ard combined in tiie receiver. Because the parallel trans-missions travel different paths, if one is affected by fading, the others will likely not be affected. Thus, when they are combined in the recάvσ, the message should be recoverable even if one or more of the otha trananission pat-hs experienced severe fading. Receive spatial diversity uses a plurality of separate receivers and a plurality of separate antennas to receive a single message. If an adequate distance separates the antennas, then the trananission path for the signals received by the antennas will be different Again, this difference in the trananission paths will provide imperviousness to fading when the signals from the receivers are combined. Trananit and receive spatial diversity can also be combined wit-hin a system such as system 600 so that two antennas are used to trananit and two antennas are used to receive. Thus, each base station 606 transmitter can includetwo antennas, for transmit spatial diversity, and each communication device 604 receiver can include two antennas, for receive spatial divasity. If only transmit spatial divasity is implemented in system 600, then it can be implemented in base stations 606 or in communication devices 604. Similarly, if only receive spatial diversity is included in system 600, then it can be implemented in base stations 606 or communication devices 604. The number of communication devices 604 assigned frequency bins 502 and/or time slots 506 in each cell 602 is preferably programmable in real time. In other words, the resource allocation within a communication cell 602 is preferably programmable in the face of varying external conditions, i.e., multipath or adjacent cell interference, and varying requirements, i.e., bandwidth requirements for various users within the cell Thus, if user 1 requires the whole bandwidth to download a large video file, for example, then the allocation ofbins 502 can be adjust to provide user 1 with more, or even a-U, of bins 502. Once user 1 no longer requires such large amounts of bandwidth, the allocation ofbins 502 can be readjusted among all of users 14 It should also be noted that all of the bins assigned to a particular usα can be used for both the forward and reverse link. Alternatively, some bins 502 can be assigned as the forward link and some can be assigned for use on the reverse Kn-k, depending on the implementation To increase capacity, the entire bandwidth E is preferably reused in each communication cell 602, with each cell 602 being differentiated by a unique synchronization code (see discussion below). Thus, system 600 provides increased immunity to multipath and fading as well as increased barxi width cli to the elimination of -^ 3. Synchronization Figure 8 illustrates an example embodiment of a synchronization cede correlator 800. When a device 604 in cell 1 (see figure 6), for example, receives an in∞ming communication from the cell 1 base station 606, it compares the i-rKXjming data with SYNCl in correlator 800. -Essentially, the device scans the incoming data trying to correlate the data with the known synchronization code, in this case SYNCl. Once correlator 800 matches the incoming data toSYNCl itgeneratesa correlation peak 804 at the output Multipalh versions of the data will also gaierate correlation peaks 806, although these peaks 806 are generally smaller than correlation peak 804. The device can then use the correlation peaks to perform channel estimation, which allows the device to adjust for the multipa-h using, e.g., an equalizer. Thus, in cell 1, if correlator 800 receives a data stream comprising SYNCl, it will generate correlation peaks 804 and 806. Iζ on the other hand, the data stream comprises SYNC2, for example, then no peaks will be ga erat---d and the device will esseπtia-Uyigro^ communication Even though a data stream that comprises SYNC2 will not create any correlation peaks, it can create noise in correlator 800 that can prevent detection of correlation peaks 804 and 806. Several steps can be taken to prevent this from occurring. One way to minimize the noise created in correlator 800 by agnak fiom adjacent cells 602, is to configure systen 600 so that each base station 606 transmits at the same time. This way, the synchronization codes can preferably be genaated in such a manner that only the synchronization codes 704 of adjacent cell data streams, e.g, streams 708, 710, and 712, as opposed to packets 702 within those streams, will interfere with detection of the coπect synchronization code 704, e.g., SYNC 1. The syndironization codes can then be further configured to eliminate or reduce the interference. For example, the noise or interference caused by an incorrect synchronization code is a function of the cross correlation of that sync-hronization code with respect to the correct code. The better the cross correlation between the two, the Iowa the noise level When the cross correlation is ideal, then the noise level will be virtually zero as illustrated in figure 9 by noise level 902. Therefore, a preferred embodiment of system 600 uses synchronization codes that exhibit ideal cross correlation, Le., zero. -Preferably, the ideal cross correlation of the synchronization codes covers a period 7 t-hat is sufficiait to allow accurate detection ofmultipalh correlation peaks 906 as well as conelation peak 904. This is important so that accurate channel estimation and equalization can take place. Outside of period 7, the noise level 908 goes up, because the data in packets 702 is random and will exhibit low cross conelation with the synchronization code, e.g., SYNC 1. Preferably, period 7 is actually slightly longa then the multipalh length in order to ensure that the mu-ttipalh can be detected. a Synchronization code generation Conventional systems use orthogonal codes to achieve cross correlation in correlator 800. In system 600 for example, SYNCl, SYNC2, SYNC3, and SYNC4, corresponding to cells 14 (see lightly shaded cells 602 of figure 6) respectively, will all need to be generated in such a manna t-hat they wi-Ul ve ideal cross correlation with each othα. In one aribcdiment, if the data streams involved comprise high aid low data bits, thm the value''r'can be asagnedtothe high data bits and "-1" to the low data bits. Orthogonal data sequences are then those that produce a "0" output when they are exclusively ORed (XORed) togetha in correlator 800. The following example illustrates this point for orthogonal sequences l and2: sequence 1: 1 1 -1 1 sequence2: 1 1 1 -1 1 1 -1 -1=0 Thus, when the results ofXORing each bit pair are added, the result is"0." But in system 600, for example, each code must have ideal or zero, cross conelation with each of the other codes used in acljacent cells 602. Therefore, in one example embodiment of a method for genαating synchronization codes exhibiting the properties described above, the process begins by selecting a "perfect sequence" to be used as the basis for t-he codes. A perfect sequence is one that when correlated with itself produces a numbα equal to the number of bits in the sequence. For example: Perfect sequence 1: 1 1 -1 1 1 1 -1 1 1 1 1 1 =4 But each time a perfect sequence is cyclically shifted by one bit, the new sequence is orthogonal with the original sequence. Thus, for example, if perfect sequence 1 is cyclically shifted by one bit and then correlated with the original, the conelation produces a"0"as in the following example: Perfect sequence 1: 1 1 -1 1 1 1 1-1 1 1 -1-1 =0 If the perfect sequence 1 is ag in cyclically shifted by one bit, and ag^in correlated with the original, then it will produce a'O". In general you can cyclically shift a perfect sequence by any numbα ofbits up to its length and correlate the shifted sequence with the original to obtain a ' Xf '. Once a perfect sequence of the correct length is selected, the first synchronization code is preferably generated in one embodiment by repeating the sequence 4 times. Thus, if pafect sequence 1 is bang used, then a first -^chronizationccdey would be the following: y= l 1-1 11 1-1 11 1-1 11 1-1 1. Or in generic form y=x(0)x(lK2K3M0)x(lK2)x(3)x(0)x(l)x(2M3)x( )x(l)x(2)x(3). For a sequence oflength L: y=x i)..j κ(0χ )..^X0)κ(l)..x( )κ(0 \)..x(L). Repeating the perfect sequence allows correlator 800 a better opportunity to detect the synchronization code and allows gaiaation of oth unconelated frequencies as well Repeating has the effect of sampling in the fiequency domain

This effect is illustrated by the graphs in figure 10. Thus, in trace 1, which corresponds to synchronization o άey, a sample

1002 is generated every fourth sample bin 1000. -Each sample bin is separated by 1/(41x7), where Tis the symbol duration

Thus in the above example, where 7?, = 4, each sample bin is separated by 1/(16x1) in the fiequaicy domain Traces 24 illustrate the next three synchronization codes. As can be seen, the samples for each subsequαit synchronization code are shifted by one sample bin relative to the samples for the previous sequence. Therefore, none of sequences interfere with each otha. To generate the subsequent sequences, corresponding to trac^ 24, seciuence^ must te shifted in frequency. This can be accomplished using the following equation £(m) =y(m)*exp(j*2 *τf*r*m/(n*L)), (5) forr= 1 to7- (#c seque-r-ees)andm=0to4*7,-l (time); and where: I(m) = each subsequent sequence, y(m) = the first sequence, and n= the numbα of times the sequence is repeated. It will be understood that multiplying by an exp(j2π(r*m/N)) factor, where N is equal to the numbα of times the sequence is repeated (n) multiplied by the length of the underlying pafect sequence E in the time dcπria results in a d ift in the frequency domain ?Equatic>n(5)resutamthedes-i-redshiftasi^^ relative to synchronization code 1. The final stφ in generating each --ynchronization code is to append the copies of the last M samples, where M is the length of the muitipafh, to the front of each code. This is done to make the convolution with the multipath cyclic and to allow easier detection of the multipalh. It should be noted that synchronization codes can be generated firjmrrrøre than one perfect sequai∞ using tiiesanie methodology. For example, a perfect sequence can be genaated and repeated for times and then a second perfect sequence can be generated and repeated four times to get a n --actor equal to eight The resulting sequence can then be shifted as described above to create the synchronization codes. b. Signal Measurements Using Synchronization Codes Therefore, when a communication device is at the edge of a cell it will receive signals from multiple base stations and, therefore, will be decoding several synchronization codes at the same time. This can be illustrated with the help of figure 11, which illustrates another example embodimait of a wireless communication system 1100 comprising communication cells 1102, 1104, and

station lllOof cell 1102 but also receiving ccmniunication from base stations 1112 and 1114ofcells 1104 and 1106, reφectively. If communications from base station 1110 comprise synchronization code SYNCl and communications from base station 1112 and 1114 comprise SYNC2 and SYNC3 respectively, then device 1108 will effectively receive the sum of these three synchronization codes. This is because, as explained above, base stations 1110, 1112, and 1114 are configi-rr^ transmit at the same time. Also, the synchronization codes arrive at device 1108 at almost the same time because they are generated in accordance with the description above. Again as described above, the synchronization codes SYNC 1 , SYNC2, and S YNC3 exhibit ideal cross correlation Therefore, when device 1108 correlates the sum x of codes SYNCl, SYNC2, and SYNC3, the latter two will not interfere with propa detection of SYNCl by device 1108. Importantly, the sum x can also be used to determine important signal characteristics, because the sum x is equal to the sum of the synchronization code signal in accordance with the following equation: x = SYNCl + SYNC2 + SYNC3. (6) Therefore, when SYNCl is removed, the sum of SYNC2 and SYNC3 is left, as shown in the following: x - SYNCl = SYNC2 + SYNCl (1) The enagy computed from the sum (SYNC2 + SYNC3) is equal to the noise or interference seen by device 1108. Since the purpose of correlating the -ynchror-izationccdemd--Mce llC6isto has the energyin the signal from basestation 1110, i.e., the enagy represented by SYNCl. Therefore, device 1106 can use the energy of SYNCl and of (SYNC2 + SYNC3) to perform a signal-to-interfaence measurement for the communication channel ova which it is communicati-ng with base station 1110. The result of the measurement is preferably a signal-to- interfaence ratio (SIR). The SIR measurement can then be communicated back to base station 1110 for purposes that will be discussed below. The ideal cross correlation of the synchronization codes also allows device 1108 to perform extremely accurate determinations of the Channel Impulse Response (CIR), or channel estimation, from the correlation produced by correlator 800. This allows for highly accurate equalization using low cost, low complexity equalizers, thus overcoming a significant draw back of conventional systems. 4 Sub-channel Assignments As mentioned, the SIR as determined by device 1108 can be commuracated bade to base station 1110 for use in the assignmait of slots 502. In one embodiment, due to the fact that each sub-channel 502 is processed independently, the SIR for each sub-channel 502 can be measured and commirnicated back to base station 1110. Insuch an embodimait, therefore, sub-channels 502 can be divided into groups and a SIR measurement for eadi group can be sent to base station 1110. Thisis illustrated in figure 12A, which shows a wideband communication channel 1200 segmented into sub-channels j6 tofis- Sub-channelsjo tofu are then grouped into 8 groups Gl toGδ. Thus, in one embcximait, device 1108 and basestation 1110 communicate ova a channel such as channel 1200. Sub-channels in the same group are preferably separated by as many sub-channels as possible to ensure divasity. In figure 12A for example, sub-channels within the same group are 7 sub-channels apart, e.g, group Gl comprises/ø and _?. Device 1102 reports a SIR measurement for each of the groups Gl to G8. These SIR measurements are preferably compared with a threshold value to detemιmewHchsul>charmek groups are useablety This comparison can occur in device 1108 or base station 1110. Ifit occurs in device 1108, then device 1108 can simply report to base station 1110 which sub-channel groups are useable by device 1108. SIR reporting will be simultaneously occurring for a plurality of devices within cell 1102. Thus, figure 12B illustrates the situation where two communication devices corresponding to usαl and usα2 report SIR levels above the threshold forgroupsGl, G3, G5, and G7. -Base station 1110 preferably then asagns sub- iannel groiφs to used and user2 based on the SIR reporting as illust-rated in Figure 12B. When assigning the "good" sub-channel groups to usαl and user2, base station 1110 also preferably assigns them based on the principles of frequency diversity. In figure 12B, therefore, usαl and usα2 are alternately assigned every othα ' 'good' ' sub-channeL The assignment of sub-channels in the fiequency domain is equivalent to the assignment of time slots in the time domain Therefore, as illustrated in figure 13, two users, used and usα2, receive packet 1302 transmitted ova communication channel 1200. Figure 13 also illustrated the sub-channel assignment of figure 12B. While figure 12 and 13 iUustrate sub-channel time slot assignment based on SIR for two users, the principles illustrated can be extended for any nii bα of users. Thus, a packet within cell 1102 can be received by 3 or more users. Although, as the numbα of available sub-channels is reduced due to highSIR, so is the available bandwidth. In othα words, as available sub-channels are reduced, the numbα ofusasthat can gain access to communication channel 1200 is also reduced. Poor SIR can be caused for a variety of reasons, but -frequently itresu-te fiomadeviceattheedgeofaceUrec^i-ving communication signals from adjacent cells. -Because each cell is using the same bandwidth E, the adjacent cell signals will eventually raise the noise level and degrade SIR for certain sub-channels. In certain embodiments, therefore, sub-channel assignma t can be coordinated between cells, such as cells 11C2, 1104, and 1106 in figure 11, ordαtoprevent interference from adjacent cells. Thus, if communication device 1108 is near the edge of cell 1102, and device 1118 is near the edge of cell 1106, thai the two can interfere with each otha. As a result, the SIR measurements that device 1108 and 1118 report backtobase stations 1110 and 1114, respectively, will indicate that the interference level is too higji -Base station 1110 can then be configured to assign only the odd groups, i.e., Gl, G3, G5, etc., to device 1108, while base station 1114 can be configured to assign the even groups to device 1118 in a coordinated -fashion The two devices 1108 and 1118 will then rot interfere with each othα due to the coordinated assignmait of sub-channel groups. Assigning the sub-channels in this maπnα reduces the overall bandwidth available to devices 1108 and 1118, respectively. In this case the bandwidth is reduced by a factor of two. ?But it should be remembered that devices operating closα to each base station 1110 and 1114, respectively, will still be able to use all sub-channels if needed. Thus, it is only devices, suchasdevice l 108, that are near the edge ofaceU that wift have the ava-y eo^ Contrast this with a CDMA system, for example, in which the bandwidth for all users is reduce4duetothe readingteclιrriquesusedinsuch systems, by approximately a factor of 10 at all times. It can be seen, therefore, that the systems and methods for wireless communication ova a wide bandwidth channel using a plurality of sub-channels not only improves the quality of service, but can also increase the available bandwidth significantly. When there are three devices 1108, 1118, and 1116 near the edge of their respective acjjacerit cells 1102, 1104, and 1106, the sub-channels can be divided by three. Thus, device 1108, forexample, can be assigned groups G1,G4, etc., device 1118 can be assigned groups G2, G5, etc., and device 1116 can be assigned groups G3, G6, etc. In this case the available bandwidth for these devices, ie., devices near the edges of cells 1102, 1104, and 1106, is reduced by a factor of 3, but this is still better than a CDMA system, for example. The mannα in which such a coordinated assignment of sub-channels can work is illustrated by the flow chart in figure 14. First in step 1402, a communication device, such as device 1108, reports the SIR for all sub-channel groups Gl to G8. The SIRs reported are then compared, in stφ 1404, to a threshold to determine if the SIR is sufficiently low for each group. Alternatively, device 1108 can make the determination and simply report which groups are above or below the SIR threshold. If the SIR levels are good for each group, then base station 1110 can make each group available to device 1108, in step 1406. Periodically, device 1108 preferably measures the SIR level and updates base station 1110 in case the SIR as deteriorated. For example, device 1108 may move from near the center of cell 1102 toward the edge, where interference from an adjacent cell may affect the SIR for device 1108. If the comparison in step 1404 reveals that the SIR levels are not good, then base station 1110 can be preprogrammed to assign eithαthe odd groups or the even groups only to device 1108, which it will do in step 1408. -Device 1108 tha reports the SIR measurements for the odd or even groups it is asagned stφ 1410, and they are again compared to a SIR threshold in step 1412. It is assumed that the poor SIR level is due to the feet that device 1108 is operating at the edge of cell 1102 and is therefore being interfered with by a device such as device 1118. But device 1108 will be interfering with device 1118 at t-he same time. Therefore, the assignment of odd or even groups in stφ 1408 preferably corresponds with the assignment of the opposite groups to device 1118, by base station 1114. Accordingly, when device 1108 reports the SIR measurements for whichevα groups, odd or even, are assigned to it, the comparison in step 1410 should reveal that the SIR levels are now below the threshold leveL Thus, base station 1110 makes the assigned groups available to device 1108 in stφ 1414. Again, device 1108 preferably periodically updates the SIR measurements by returning to step 1402. It is possible for the comparison of stφ 1410 to reveal that tiieS-lR levels are sti-U above the thre-^14 which stould indicate that a third device, e.g, device 1116 is still interfering with device 1108. In this case, base station 1110 can be preprogrammed to assign every third group to device 1108 in step 1416. This should correspond with the corresponding assignments of non-intafaing channels to devices 1118 and 1116 by base stations 1114 and 1112, respectively. Thus, device 1108 should be able to operate on the sub-channel groups assigned, i.e., Gl, G4, etc., wit-hout undue interference. Again, device 1108 preferably periodically updates the SIR measurements by returning to step 1402. Optionally, a third comparison stφ (not shown) can be implemented after stφ 1416, to ensure that the groups assigned to device 1408 posses an adequate SIR level for propα operation Moreovα, if there are more adjacent cells, i.e., if it is possible for devices in a 4^h or even a 5^h adjacent cell to interfere with device 1108, then the process of figure 14 would continue and the sub-channel groups would be divided even furthα to aisure adequate SIR levels on the sub-channels assigned to device 1108. Even though the process of figure 14 reduces the bandwidth available to devices at the edge of cells 1102, 1104, and 1106, the SIR measurements can be used in such a mannα as to i-nαease the data rate and therefore restore or even inαease bandwidth To accomplish this, the transmitters and receivers used in base stations 1102, 1104, and 1106, and in devices in communication therewit-h, e.g, devices 1108, 1114, and 1116 respectively, must be capable of dynamically changing the symbol mapping schemes used for some or all of the sub-channel For example, in some embcd-πr-eπts, the symbol mapping scheme can be dynamically changed among B-PSK, QPSK, 8PSK, 16QAM, 32QAM etc. As the symbol mapping scheme moves highα, i.e., toward 32QAM the SIR level required for propα operation moves highα, i.e., less and less interference can be withstood. Therefore, once the SIR levels are determined for each group, the base station, e.g, base station 1110, can then determine what symbol mapping scheme can be supported for each sub-channel group and can change the modulation scheme accordingly. Device 1108 must also change the symbol mapping scheme to correspond to that of the base stations. The change can be effected for all groups uniformly, or it can be effected for individual groups. Moreovα, the symbol mapping schane can be changed on just the forward link, just the reverse link, or bot-h, depending on the embodiment Thus, by maintaining the capability to dynamically assign sub-channels and to dynamically change the symbol mapping scheme used for assigned sub-channels, the systems and methods described herein provide the ability to maintain highα available bandwidths with highα performance levels than conventional systems. To fully realize the benefits described, howevα, the systems and methods described thus far must be capable of implementation in a cost effect and conveniait mannα. Moreovα, the implementation must include reconfigurability so that a single device can move between different types of communication systems and still maintain optimum performance in accordance with the systems and methods described herein The following descriptions detail example high level embodiments ofhardware implementations configured to operate in accordance with the systems and methods described herein in such a mannα as to provide the capability just described above. 5; Sample Trananitter -Bnbcdiments

Figure 15 is logical block diagram illust-rating an example embodiment of a trananitter 1500 configured for wireless communication in accordance with the systems and methods described above. The transmitter could, for example be within a base station, e.g, base station 606, or within a communication device, such as device 604. Trananitter 1500 is provided to illustrate logical components that can be included in a trananittα configured in accordance wifli the systems and methods described herein -ft is not intended to limit the systems and methods for wireless communication ova a wide bandwidth channel using a plurality of sub-channels to any particular transmitter configuration or any particular wireless communication system With this in mind, it can be seen that transmitter 1500 comprises a serial-to-parallel converter 1504 configured to receive a serial data stream 1502 comprising a data rate R. Serial-to-parallel converter 1504 converts data stream 1502 into N parallel data streams 1504, where N is the nurnbα of sub-channels 200. It should be noted that while the discussion that follows assumes t-hat a single serial data stream is used, more than one serial data stream can also be used if required or desired. In any case, the data rate of each parallel data stream 1504 is then R/N. Each data stream 1504 is then sent to a scramblα, er-ecda, and interieavα block 1506. Scrambling, encoding and interleaving are common techniques implanaited in many wireless communication transmittas and help to provide robust, secure communication Examples of these techniques will be briefly explained for illustrative purposes. Scrambling breaks up the data to be trananitted in an effort to smooth oi-rt the -φectral density of te For example, if the data comprises a long string of "l"s, there will be a spike in the spectral density. This spike can cause greater interference within the wireless communication system By breaking up the data, the spectral density can be smoothed out to avoid any such peaks. Often, scrambling is achieved by XORing the data with a random sequence. -Encoding or coding the parallel bit streams 1504 can, for example, provide Forward -Error Correction (FE . The purpose of ?FEC is to improve the capacity of a communication channel by adding some carefully designed redundant information to the data being transmitted through thechar-neL The process of adding this redundant information is known as channel coding Convolutional coding and block coding are the two major foπris of channel coding Convolutional codes operate en serial data, one or a few bits at a time. Block codes operate on relatively large (typically, up to a couple ofhundred bytes) message blocks. There are a variety of useful convolutional and block codes, and a variety of algorithms for decoding the received coded information sequences to recovα the original data For example, convolutional encoding or turbo coding with Vite-rbi decoding is a FEC technique that is particularly suited to a channel in which the transmitted signal is corrupted mainly by additive white gaussian noise (AWGN) or even a channel that simply exp iαices fading Convolutional codes are usually described using two parameters: the cede rate and the

rate, k/n, is expressed as a ratio of the nurnbα ofbits into the convolutional enccdα (k) to the numbα of channel symbols («) output by the convoMonal encodα ina given enccdα cycle. A common code rate is 'Λ, which means that 2 symbols are produced for every 1-bit input into the coda. The constraint length parameter, K, denotes the "length" of the convolutional enccdα, ie. how many A-bit stages are available to feed the combinatorial logic that produces the output symbols. Qosely

and used fo it first appears at the input to the convolutional encodα. The m parameter can be thought of as the memory length of the enccdα. Interieaving is used to reduce the effects of lading Interieaving mixes up the ordα of the data so t-hat if a fade interferes with a portion of the transmitted signal the overall message will not be effected. This is because once the message is de-int ieaved and decoded in the receivα, the data lost will comprise non-contiguous portions of the overall message. In othα words, the fade will interfere with a contiguous portion of the interleaved message, but when the message is de- interleaved, the interfered with portion is spread throughout the overall message. Using techniques such as ?FEC, the missing information can then be filled in, or the impact of the lost data may just be negligible. Aftα blocks 1506, each parallel data stream 1504 is sent to symbol mappers 1508. Symbol mappers 1508 apply the requisite symbol mapping e.g, BPS- , Q-PSK, etc., to each parallel data stream 1504. Symbol mappers 1508 are preferably programmable so that the modulation applied to parallel data streams can be changed, for example, in response to the SIR reported for each sub-channel 202. It is also preferable, that each symbol mappα 1508 be separately programmable so that the optimum symbol mapping scheme for each sub-channel can be selected and applied to each parallel data stream 1504. After symbol mappers 1508, parallel data streams 1504 are sent to modulators 1510. Important aspects and features of example embodimaits of modulators 1510 are described below. Aftα modulators 1510, parallel data streams 1504 are sent to summα 1512, which is configured to sum the parallel data streams and thereby genaate a single serial data stream 1518 comprising each of the individual^ processed parallel data streams 1504. Serial data stream 1518 is then sent to radio module 1512, where it is modulated with an ?RF carriα, amplified, and trananitted via antenna 1516 according to known techniques. ?Radio module embodiments that can be used in cc^ described below. The transmitted signal occupies the entire bandwidth B of communication channel 100 and comprises each of the discrete parallel data streams 1504 encoded onto their respective sub-channels 102 within bandwidth B. Enc-cding parallel data streams 1504 onto the appropriate sub-channels 102 rec restø each paraUel data stream 1504 be shifted by an appropriate oflset This is achieved in modulator 1510. Figure 16 is a logical block diagram of an example embodiment of a modulator 1600 in accordance with the systems and methods described herein Importantly, modulator 1600 takes parallel data streams 1602 performs Time Division Modulation (TDM) or Frequency -Division Modulation (FDM) on each data stream 1602, filters them using filters 161-2, and then shifts each data stream in frequency using frequency shifter 1614 so that they occupy the appropriate sub-channeL Filters 1612 apply the required pulse shapping i.e., they apply the roll-off factor described in section 1. The frequency shifted parallel data streams 1602 are then summed and transmitted. Modulator 1600 can also include rate controllα 1604, frequency encodα 1606, and interpolators 1610. AU of the components shown in figure 16 are described in more detail in the following paragraphs and in conjunction with figures 17-23. Figure 17 illustrates one example embodiment of a rate controllα 1700 in accordance with the systems and methods described herei -Rate control 1700 is used to control the data rate of each parallel data stream 1602. In rate controllα 1700, the data rate is halved by repeating data streams d(0) to d(7), for example, producing streams a(0) to a(15) in which a(0) is the same as a(8), a(l) is the same as a(9), etc. Figure 17 illustrates that the effect of repeating the data streams in this mannα is to take the data streams that are encoded onto the first 8 sub-channels 1702, and duplicate them on the next 8 sub-channels 1702. As can be seen, 7 sub-channels separate sub-channels 1702 comprising the same, or duplicate, data streams. Thus, if fading effects one sub-channel 1702, for example, the othα sub-channels 1702 carrying the same data will likely not be effected, i.e., there is frequency divasity between the duplicate data streams. So by sacrificing data rate, in this case half the data rate, more robust transmission is achieved. Moreovα, the robustness provided by duplicating the data streams d(0) to dβ) can be furthα α-hanced by applying scrambling to the dupticatedctø It should be noted that the data rate can be reduced by more than hal-ζ e.g, by four or more. Alternatively, the data rate can also be reduced by an amount othα than half For example if information fiom n data stream is encoded onto m sub-channels, where m >n. Thus, to decrease the rate by 2/3, information from one data stream can be encoded on a first sub-channel information from a second data stream can be encoded en a seccrf date channel a-rd the a the two data streams can be encoded on a third channel In which case, propα scaling will need to be applied to the powα in the t-hird charmeL Otherwise, for example, the powα in the third channel can be twice the powα in the first two. -Preferably, rate controllα 1700 is programmable so that the data rate can be changed responsive to certain operational factors. For example, if the SIR reported for sub-channels 1702 is low, then rate controllα 1700 can be programmed to provide more robust trananission via repetition to ensure that no data is lost due to interference. Additionally, different types of wireless communication system, e.g, indoor, outdoor, line-of-sight, may require varying degrees of robustness. Thus, rate controllα 1700 can be adjusted to provide the minimum required robustness for the particular type of communication system This type of programmability not only ensures robust communication, it can also be used to allow a single device to move between communication systems and maintain superior performance. Figure 18 illustrates an alternative example embodiment of a rate controllα 1800 in accordance with the systems and methods described. In rate controllα 1800 the data rate is increased instead of decreased. This is accomplished using serial-to-parallel converters 1802 to convert each data streams d(0) to d(15), for example, into two data streams -Delay circuits 1804 then delay one of the two data streams ga aated by each serial-to-parallel converter 1802 by ^lA a symbol period. Thus, data streams d(0) to d(15) are transformed into data streams c ) to aβl). The data streams gaiaated by a particular se-rial-to-parallel converter 1802 and associate delay circuit 1804 must then be summed and encoded onto the appropriate sub-channeL For example, data streams a(0) and a(l) must be summed and encoded onto the first sub-channeL -Preferably, the data streams are summed subsequent to each data --Λeam being pulsed shφed by afi-tα 1612. Thus, rate controllα 1604 is preferably programmable so that the data rate can be increased, as in rate controllα 1800, or decreased, as in rate controllα 1700, as required by a particular type of wireless communication system, or as required by the communication channel conditions or sub-channel conditions. In the event that the data rate is increased, filters 1612 are also pref ably programmable so that they can be augured to q lypu?-seshφping to data stieamsαfQ) to aβl), for example, and then sum the appropriate streams to generate the appropriate πumbαofparaM date streams to send to fiequaicy shifter 1614. The advantage of increasing the data rate in the mannα illustrated figure 18 is that highα symbol r^ can essentially be achieved, without changing the symbol mapping used h- mbol mappers 1508. Once the data streams are summed, the summed streams are shifted in -frequency so that they resicte in the appropriate sub-channeL ?But because the numbα ofbhs p each symbol has been doubled, the symbol mapping rate has been doubled Thus, for example, a 4QAM symbol mapping can be converted to a 16QAM symbol mapping even ffthe SIR is too high fcH6QAMs m^ to othawise be applied. In othα words, programming rate controllα 1800 to increase the data rate in the marrnα illustrated in figure 18 can increase the symbol mapping even when channel conditions would otherwise not allow it, which in turn can allow a communication device to maintain adequate or even superior performance regardless of the type of communication syste The draw back to increasing the data rate as illustrated in figure 18 is that interference is increased, as is receivα complexity. The forma is due to the increased amount of data The latter is due to the feet t-hat each symbol cannot be processed independently because of the 12 symbol overlap. Thus, these concerns must be balanced against the increase symbol mapping ability when implementing a rate conlrolla such as rate controllα 1800. Figure 19 illustrates one example embodiment of a fiequaicy aiccdα 1900 in accordance with the systems and methods described herein Similar to rate encoding frequency encoding is prefaably used to provide increased communication robustness. In frequency encodα 1900thesumσrdiffereneoofmιώ-ipledatø sub-charmeL This is accomplished using addas 1902 to sum data streams d(0) to a 7) with data streams d(8) to d(15), respectively, while adders 1904 subtract data streams d(0) to d(7) from data streams dβ) to d(15), respectively, as shown Thus, data streams a(0) to a(15) generated by adders 1902 and 1904 comprise information related to more than one data streams d(0) to d(15). For example, a(0) comprises the sum of d(0) and d(8), ie., d(0) + d(8), while a(8) compnses d(8) - d(0). Therefore, if eithα a(0) or a(8) is not received due to fading for example, then both of data streams d(0) and d(8) can still be retrieved from data stream a(8). -Essentially, the relationship between data stream d(0) to d(15) and a(0) to a(l 5) is a matrix relationship. Thus, if the receivα knows the correct matrix to apply, it can recova the sums and differences of d(0) to d(15) from a(0) to a(15). -Preferably, fiequaicy enccdα 1900 is programmable, so that it can be enabled and disabled in ordα to provided robustness whmrequired. -Preferable, addas 1902 and 1904 are programmable also so that ctiffe-rert atric canbeapptiedtoc^to d(15) . Aftα fiequency a-ccding if it is included, date streams 1602 are sent to TDM/FDM blocks 1608. TDM/FDM blocks 1608 perform TDM OTFDM on the date streams as

Figure 20 illustrates an example embodiment of a TDM/FDM block 2000 configured to perform TDM on a date stream TDM FDM block 2000 is provided to illustrate the logical components that can be included in a TDM/FDM block configured to perform TDM on a data stream -Depending on the actual implementation, some of the logical components may or may not be included. TDM FDM block 2000 comprises a sub-block repeatα 2002, a sub-block scramblα 2004, a sub-block taminator 2006, a subhlock repeatα 2008, and a SYNC inserter 2010. Sub-block repeatα 2002 is configured to receive a sub-block of date, such as block 2012 comprising bits a(0) to a(3) for example. Sub-block repeatα is thai configured to repeat block 2012 to provide repetition, which in turn leads to more robust communication Thus, sub-block repeater 2002 generates block 2014, which comprises 2 blocks 2012. Sub- block scramblα 2004 is then configured to receive block 2014 and to scramble it, thus gaiaating block 2016. One method of scrambling can be to invert half of block 2014 as illust-rated in block 2016. But othα scrambling methods can also be implanented depending on the embcdime-nt Sub-blodc terminator 2006 takes block 2016 generated by sub-block scramblα 2004 and adds a termination block 20-34 to the front of block 2016 to form block 2018. Termination blodc 2034 ensures that each block can be processed indφendaitly in the receivα. Without termination block 20-34, some blocks may be delayed due to multipath, for example, and they would therefore overlap part of the next block of date -But by including termination block 2034, the delayed block can be prevented from overlapping any of the actual date in the next block. Termination block 2034 can be a cyclic prefix termination 2036. A cyclic prefix termination 2036 simply repeats the last few symbols ofblock 2018. Thus, for example, if cyclic prefix termination 2036 is three symbols long then it would simply repeat the last t-hree symbols ofblock 2018. Alternatively, termination block 2034 can comprise a sequence of symbols that are known to both the transmitter and receivα. The selection of what type ofblock termination 20-34 to use can impact what type of equaliz is used in the receivα. Therefore, receivα complexity and choice of equalizers must be considered when determining what type of termination block 2034 to use in TD?M/FDM block 2000. After sub-block taminator 2006, TDM FDM block 2000 can include a sub-block repeatα 2008 configured to perform a second block repetition stφ in which block 2018 is repeated to form block 2020. In certain embodiments, sub- block repeatα can be configured to perform a second block scrambling step as welL Aftα sub-block repeatα 2008, if included, TDM FDM block 2000 comprises a SYNC inserter 210 configured to periodically insert an appropriate synchronization code 2032 after a predetermined numbα of blocks 2020 and/or to insat known symbols into each block. The purpose of synchronization code 2032 is discussed in section 3. Figure 21 , on the othα hand, illustrates an example embodiment of a TDM/FDM blodc 2100 configured for ?FDM which comprises sub-block repeatα 2102, sub-block scramblα 2104, block coda 2106, sub-block transforma 2108, sub- block taminator 2110, and SYNC insαter 2112. Sub-block repeater 2102 repeats block 2114 and genaates block 2116. Sub-blcx;kscxamblathaι-- amblesblcck2116, gφeratingblock2118. Sub-blcdcccdα2106tekesblcck2118 and codes it, generating block 2120. Coding block correlates the data symbols togethα and generates symbols b. This requires joint demodulation in the receivα, which is more robust but also more complex. Sub-block transformα 2108 thai performs a transformation on block 2120, generating block 2122. Preferably, the transformation is an IFFT ofblock 2120, which allows for more effiάent equalizers to be used in the receivα. Next, sub-block terminator 2110 terminates block 2122, generating block 2124 and SYNC inserter2112 periodically inserts a synchronization code 2126 after a certain numbα ofblocks 2124 and/or insert known symbols into each block. -Preferably, sub-block taminator 2110 only uses c>clic prefix temiination as described above. Agpin this allows for more effirient receiva designs. TDM FDM block 2100 is provided to illustrate the logical ccepcmentst-hat can be included a TDM/TOM block configured to perform FDM on a data stream -Depending on the actual inplementatiσn, some of the logical components may or may not be included. Moreovα, TDM FDM block 2000 and 2100 are preferably programmable so that the appropriate logical components can be included as required by a particular implementation This allows a device that incorporates one ofblocks 2000 or 2100 to move between different systans with different requirements. Furtha, it is preferable that TDM/FDM block 1608 in figure 16 be programmable so that it can be programmed to perform TDM such as described in conjunction with block 2000, or FDM, such as described in conjunction with block 2100, as required by a particular communication syste After TDM/FDM blocks 1608, in figure 16,theparaMdate--d-reamsarepreferablypasse^ 1610. After interpolators 1610, the parallel date streams are passed to filters 1612, which apply the pulse shapping described in conjunction with the roll-off factor of equation (2) in section 1. Then the parallel date streams are sent to fiequaicy shifter 1614, which is configured to shift each parallel data stream by the frequency onset associated with the sub-channel to which the particular parallel date stream is associated Figure 22 illustrates an example embodiment of a frequency shifter 2200 in accordance with the systems and methods described herein As can be seen, frequency shifiα 2200 comprises multipliers -2202 configured to multiply each parallel data stream by the appropriate exponential to ac-Heve me requi-red frequency shift. -Each exponential is of the form: eψ()2 ιT/rM), where c is the coπesponding sub-channel e.g, c = 0 to N-7, and n is time. -Preferably, frequency shifter 1614 in figure 16 is programmable so that various diarmel/sub-charmel configurations can be accommodated for various different systans. Alternatively, an IFFT block can replace shiftα 1614 and filtering can be done after the IFFT block. This type of implementation can be more effiάent depending on the implementation After the parallel date streams are shifted, they are summed, e.g, in summα 1512 of figure 15. The summed date stream is then trananitted using the entire bandwidth B of the communication channel being used. -But the trananitted date stream also comprises each of the parallel data streams shifted in frequency such that they occupy the appropriate sub-channel Thus, each sub-channel may be assigned to one usα, or each sub-charmel may carry a date stream i-ntended for different users. The assignmait of sub-channels is described in section 3b. Regardless ofhow the sub-channels are assigned, howevα, each usα will receive the entire bandwidth, comprising all the sub-channels, but will only decode those sub-channels assigned to the usα. 6. Sample Receivα Embodiments Figure 23 illustrates an example embodiment of a reosivα 2300 that can be configured in accordance with the present invention Reoeiva 2300 comprises an antenna 2302 configured to receive a message trananitted by a t-ransmitter, such as transmitter 1500. Thus, antenna 2302 is configured to receive a wide band mes-3agecxmpr-sing the er-lire bandwidth E of a wide band channel that is divided into sub-channels of bandwidth E. As described above, the wide band message comprises a plurality of messages each encoded onto each of a coπeφonding sub-channeL All of the sub-channels may or may not be assigned to a device that includes receivα 2300, therefore, receivα 2300 may or may not be required to decode all of the sub-channels. Aftα the message is received by antenna 2300, it is sent to radio receivα 2304, which is configured to remove the carriα associated with the wide band communication channel and extract a baseband signal comprising the date stream transmitted by the transmitter. -Example radio recάvα embcdimaits are described in more detail below. The baseband signal is thai sent to correlator 2306 and danodulator -2308. Correlator 2306 is configured to correlated with a synchronization code inserted in the date stream as described in section 3. It is also preferably configured to perform SIR and multipath estimations as described in section 3(b). ?Dernodu]ator 2308 is configured to extract the parallel data streams from each sub-channel assigned to the device comprising receivα 2300 and to generate a single dat stream therefrom Figure 24 illustrates an example embodiment of a demodulator 2400 in accordance with the systems and methods described herein -Danodiiator 2402 comprises a

the baseband date stream so t-hat parallel data streams comprising the baseband date stream can be independently processed in receiva 2400. Thus, the output of frequency shifter 2402 is a plurality of parallel date streams, which are then preferably filtered by filters 2404. Filters -2404 apply a filter to each parallel date stream that (-orreφonds to the pulse diφeφpHed in the transmitter, e.g, transmitter 1500. Alternatively, an IFFT block can replace shifter 1614 and filtering can be done aftα the IFFT block. This type of implemaitation can be more effirieπt depending on the implementation Next, receivα 2400 preferably includes decimators -2406 configured to decimate the date rate of the parallel bit streams. Sampling at highα rates helps to ensure accurate recreation of the date. But the highα the data rate, the laigα and more complex equalizα 2408 becomes. Thus, the sampling rate, and therefore the numbα of samples, can be reduced by decimators 2406 to an adequate level that allows for a s allα and less costly equalizα 2408. -Equalizα 2408 is configured to reduce the effects of multipa-h in receivα 2300. Its operation will be discussed more fully below. After equalizα 2408, the parallel date streams are sent to de-scramblα, deccdα, and de-interieavα 2410, which perform the opposite operations of scramblα, α-ccdα, and intaieavα 1506 so as to reproduce the original data generated in the transmitter. The parallel date streams are then sent to parallel to serial converter 2412, which generates a single serial date stream from the parallel date streams. -Equalizα 2408 uses the multipath estimates provided by correlator 2306 to equalize the effects of multipath in reosivα 2300. In one embodiment, equalizα 2408 comprises Single-In Single-Out (SLSO) equalizers operating on each paraUelctoi-iream demodulator 2400. -bit-his case, each SBOequa-ϋzαcompriarιgequal-rø2408ιecάvffi^ and generates a single equalized output Alternatively, each equalizα can be a Multiple-In Multiple-Out (M O) or a Multiple-ln Single-Out (MISO) equalizα. Multiple inputs can be required for example, when a frequency enccdα or rate controllα, such as frequency enccdα 1900, is included in the transmitter. -Because frequency enccdα 1900 encodes information from more than one parallel date stream cnitoeachsub-charmelea-±equa-ϋzer compri to equalize more than one sub-channeL Thus, for example, if a parallel date stream in demodulator 2400 comprises d(l) + d(8), then equalizα 2408 will need to equalize both d(l) and d(8) togethα. -Equalizα 2408 can then generate a single output corresponding to d(l) or d(8) (MISO) or it can gaierate both d(l) and d(8) (M O). -Equalizα 2408 can also be a time domain equalizα (IDE) or a fr- ua cy domain equa?ϋzα(FDE) depending on the embodimaiL Generally, equaliza -2408 is a TDE if the modulator in the trananittα pαforms TDM on the parallel data streams, and a ?FDE if the modulator performs FDM But equalizα 2408 can be an -FDE even if TDM is used in the trananitter. Therefore, the preferred equalizα type should be taken into consideration when deriding what type ofblock termination to use in the transmitter. -Because of powα requirements, it is often preferable to use ?FDM on the forward link and TDM on the reverse link in a wireless communication system. As with trananitter 1500, the various components comprising demodulator 2400 are preferably programmable, so that a single device can operate in a plurality of cti-ffe-tent systems and -^-maintam supαiorpafor^^ advantage of the systems and methods described herein Accordingly, the above discussion provides systems and methods for ύr-plementing a channel access protocol t-hat allows the transmitter and receivα hardware to be reprogrammed slightly depending on the communication system Thus, when a device moves from one system to anothα, it preferably reconfigures the hardware, i.e. transmitter and receivα, as required and switches to a protocol stack corresponding to the new system An important part of reconfiguring the recάvα is reconfiguring or programming the equaliza because multipath is a main problem for each type of syste The multipath, howevα, varies depending on the type of system, which previously has meant that a different equaliza is required for different types of communication systans. The channel access protocol described in the preceding sections, howevα, allows for equalizers to be used t-hat need only be reconfigured slightly for operation in various systems. a Sample -Equalizα -E-mbcdiment Figure 25 illustrates an example embodiment of a tecάvα 2500 illustrating one way to configure equalizers 2506 in accordance with the systans and methods described herein -Before discussing the configuration of recάvα 2500, it should be noted that one way to configure equalizers 2506 is to simply include one equalizα pα channel (for the systems and methods described herein, a channel is the equivalent of a sub-channel as described above). A correlator, such as correlator 2306 (figure 23), can then provide equalizers 2506 with an estimate of the numbα, amplitude, and phase of any multipaths present, up to some maximum numbα. This is also known as the Channel Impulse -Response (OR). The maximum numbα of multipaths is determined based en design criteria for a particular implementation The more mult-paths included in the CIR the more path divasity the recάvα has and the more robust communication in the system will be. Path divasity is discussed a little more -fully below. If there is one equaliza -2506 pa channel the CIR is prefaably provided directly to equalizers -2506 from the correlator (not shown). If such a correlator configuration is used, then equalizers 2506 can be nm at a slow rate, but the overall equalization process is relatively fast For systems with a relatively small numbα of channels, such a configuration is therefore preferable. The problem, howevα, is that there is large variances in the numbα of channels used in different types of communication systems. For example, an outdoor system can have has many as -256 channels. This would require 256 equalizers 2506, which would make the recάvα design too complex and costly. Thus, for systems with a lot of channels, the configuration illustrated in figure 25 is preferable. In recάvα 2500, multiple channels share each equalizα 2506. For example, each equalizα can be shared by 4 channels, e.g, CH1-Ch4, Ch5-CH8, etc., as illustrated in figure 25. In which case, recάvα 2500 preferably comprises a memory 2502 configured to store information arriving on each channeL Memory 2502 is preferably divided into sub-sections 2504, which are each configured to store information for a particular subset of channels. Information for each channel in each subset is then alternately sent to the appropriate equalizα 2506, which equalizes the infonriation based on the CIR provided for that channeL In this case, each equalizα must nm much faster than it would if there was simply one equalizα pα channel For example, equalizers 2506 would need to run 4 or more times as last in ordα to effectively equalize 4 channels as opposed to 1. In addition, extra memory 2502 is required to buffer the channel infonnation But overall the complexity of recάvα 2500 is reduced, because there are fewα equalizers. This should also Iowa the overall cost to implement teceivα 2500. -Preferably, memory 2502 and the numbα of channels that are sent to a particular equalizα is programmable. In this way, recάvα 2500 can be reconfigured for the most optimum operation for a given systan Thus, if receivα 2500 were moved from an outdoor systan to an indoor systan with fewα channels, then recάvα 2500 can preferably be reconfigured so that there are fewer, even as few as 1 , channel pα equalizα. The rate at which equalizers 2506 are nm is also preferably programmable such that equalizes 2506 can be run at the optimum rate for the numbα of channels being equalized. In addition, if each equaliza 2506 is equalizing multiple channels, then the CIR for those multiple paths must alternately be provided to each equaliza 2506. -Preferably, therefore, a memory (not shown) is also included to buffer the CIR information for each channeL The appropriate CIR information is then sail to each equalizα from the CIR memory (not shown) when the corresponding channel infomiation is bang equalized. The CIR memory (not shown) is also prefaably programmable to ensure optimum operation regardless of what type of system recάvα 2500 is operating in Returning to the issue of path diversity, the numbα of paths used by equalizers 2506 must account for the delay spread a in the system For example, if the system is an outdoor systan operating in the 5GHz range, the communication channel can comprise a bandwidth of 125MHz, e.g, the channel can extend fiom 5.725GHz to 5.85GHz. If the channel is divided into 512 sub-channels with a roll-off fectorr of .125, then each sub-channel will have a bandwidth of approximately 215KHz, which provides approximately a 4.6μs symbol duration Since the worst case delay spread a is 20μs, the numbα ofpalhs used by equalizers 2504 can be set to a maximum of 5. Thus, there would be a first path PI at Oμs, a second path ?P2 at 4.6μs, a third path ?P3 at 92μs, a fourth path P4 at 13.8μs, and fifth path P5 at 18.4μs, which is close to the delay spread . In anothα embodiment, a sixth path can be included so as to completely covα the delay φread d_s; howevα, 20μs is the worst case. In feet, a delay φread d_s of 3μs is a more typical value. In most instances, therefore, the delay spread d_s will actually be shorter and an extra path is not needed. Alternatively, fewα sub-channels can be used, thus providing a largα symbol duration, instead of using an extra path. But again, this would typically not be needed. As explained above, equalizers 2506 are preferably configurable so that they can be reconfigured for various communicalion systems. Thus, for example, the numbα of pal-hs used must be suffiάent regardless of the type of communication system But this is also dependent on the numbα of sub-channels used. Iζ for example, recάvα 2500 wait from opαating in the above described outdoor system to an i-rdcor- stem,wherethedeteyspread iscmtte then recάvα 2500 can preferably be reconfigured for 32 sub-channels and 5 paths. Assuming the same overall bandwidth of 125 MHz, the bandwidth of each sub-channel is approximately 4MHz and the symbol duration is approximately 250ns. Therefore, there will be a first path PI at Oμs and subsequent paths P2 to P5 at 250ns, 500ns, 750ns, and lμs, respectively. Thus, the delay spread 4 should be covered for the indoor environment Again, the 1 μs ds is worst case so the lus ds provided in the above example will often be more t-han is actually required. This is preferable, howevα, for indoor systems, because it can allow operation to extend outside of the inside environment, e.g, just outside the building in which the inside environment operates. For campus style environments, where a usα is likely to be traveling between buildings, this can be advantageous. 7. Sample -Embodiment of a Wireless Communication device Figure 26 illustrates an example embodi-mat of a wireless communication device in accordance with the systems and methods described herein -Device 2600 is, for example, a portable communication device configured for operation in a plurality of indoor and outdoor communication systems. Thus, device 2600 comprises an antenna 2602 for transmitting and receiving wireless communication signals ova a wireless communication channel 2618. -Duplexor 2604, or switch, can be included so that transmitter 2606 and receivα 2608 can both use antenna 2602, while being isolated from each otha. -Duplexors, or switches used for this purpose, are well known and will not be explained herein Trananitter 2606 is a configurable transmitter configured to implement the channel access protocol described above. Thus, transmitter 2606 is capable of trananitting and encoding a wideband communication signal comprising a plurality of sub-channels. Moreovα, transmitter 2606 is configured such that the various subcomponents that comprise trananitter 2606 can be reconfigured, or programmed, as described in section 5. Similarly, recάvα 2608 is configured to implement the channel access protocol described above and is, therefore, also configured such that the various subcomponents comprising receivα 2608 can be reconfigured, or reprogrammed, as described in section 6. Transmitter 2606 and recάvα 2608 are interfaced with processor 2610, which can comprise various processing controllα, and/or Digital Signal -Processing (DSP) circuits. -Processor 2610 controls the operation of device 2600 including encoding signals to be transmitted by trananitter 2606 and (decoding signals recάved by recάvα 2608. Device 2610 can also include memory 2612, which can be configured to store operating insbuctions, e.g, firmware/software, used by processor 2610 to control the operation of device 2600. -Processor 2610 is also preferably configured to reprogram trarιanittα26X)6 and recάvα 2608 vte control interfeces 2614 and 2616, respectively, as required by the wireless communication system in which device 2600 is operating Thus, for example, device 2600 can be configured to periodically ascertain the availability is a preferred communication syste If the system is detected, then processor 2610 can be configured to load the coπeφonding operating instruction from memory 2612 and reconfigure transmitter 2606 and receivα 2608 for opαatim in the preferred system. For example, it may preferable for device 2600 to switch to an indoor wireless LAN if it is available. So device 2600 may be operating in a wireless WAN where no wireless -LAN is available, while periodically searching for the availability of an appropriate wireless LAN. Once the wireless -LAN is detected, processor 2610 will load the opaating instructions, e.g, the appropriate protocol stack, for the wireless LAN environment and will reprogram transmitter 2606 and recάvα 2608 accordingly. In this mannα, device 2600 can move from one type of communication system to anothα, while maintaining superior performance. It should be noted that a base station configured in accordance with the systems and methods herein wiU similar mannα as device 2600; howevα, because the base station does not move from one type of system to anothα, there is generally no need to configure processor 2610 to reconfigure transmittα 2606 and receivα -2608 for operatimm accordance with the operating instruction for a different type of system -But processor 2610 can still be configured to reconfigure, or reprogram the sub-components of transmittα 2606 andor recάvα 2608 as required by the operating conditions within the system as reported by communication devices in communication with the base station Moreovα, such a base station can be configured in accordance with the systems and methods described herein to implement mere than one mode of operation In which case, controllα 2610 can be configured to reprogram transmittα 2606 and receivα 2608 to implement the appropriate mode of operation 8. -Bandwidth recovery As described above in relation to figures 11-14, when a device, such as device 1118 is near the edge of a communication cell 1106, it may experience interference from base station 1112 of an adjacent communication cell 1104. In t-his case, device 1118 will report a low SIR to base station 1114, which will cause base station 1114 to rec ce me numbα of sub-channels assigned to device 1118. Asexplamed relaticmtofigιjres l2and l3,t-hisred--κti^ 1114 assigning only even sub-channels to device 1118. -Preferably, base station 1112 is correφondingly assigning only odd sub-channels to device 1116. In t-his mannα, base station 1112 and 1114 perfomicorrplementery reductions in the channels assigned to devices 1116 and 1118 in ordα to prevent interference and improve performance of devices 1116 and 1118. The reduction in assigned channels reduces the overall bandwidth available to devices 1116 and 1118. But as described above, a system implementing such a complementary reduction of sub-channels will still maintain a highα bandwidth than conventional systems. Still it is preferable to recovα the unused sub-channels, or unused bandwidth, created by the reduction of sub-channels in response to a low reported SIR One method for recovering the unused bandwidth is illustrated in the flow chart of figure 27. First, in step 2702, ba--£staticm 1114 reraves SIR rφorts for different grou^ Ifthegroup

SIR reports are good, then base station 1114 can assign all sub-channels to device 1118 in step 2704. Ifj howevα, some of the group SIR reports received in step 2702 are poor, then base station 1114 can reduce me nurri-bα of sub-channels assigned to device 1118, e.g, by assigning only even sub-channels, in step 2106. At the same time, base station 1112 is preferably performing a complementary reduction in the sub-channels assigned to device 1116, e.g, by assigning only odd subchannels. At this point, each base station has unused bandwidth with reφect to devices 1116 and 1118. To recovα this bandwidth, base station 1114 can, in step 2708, assign the unused odd sub-channels to device 1116 in adj aceπt cell 1104. It should be noted that even though cells 1102, 1104, and 1106 are illustrated as geometrically shaped, non-overlapping coverage areas, the actual coverage areas do not resemble these shapes. The shapes are essentially fictions used to plan and describe a wireless comrnuracaticn system 1100. Therefore, base station 1114 can in feet communicate with device 1116, even though it is in adjacent cell 1104. Once base station 1114 has assigned the odd sub-channels to device 1116, in step 2708, base station 1112 and 1114 communicate with device 1116 simultaneously ova the odd sub-channels in step 2710. -Preferably, base station 1112 also assigns the unused even sub-channels to device 1118 in ordα to recovα the ura--sed bandwidth in cell 1104 as welL In essence, spatial diversity is achieved by having both base station 1114 and 1112 communicate with device 1116 (and 1118) ova the same sub-channels. Spatial divasity occurs whai the same message is transmitted simultaneously ov statistically independent communication paths to the same recάvα. The independence of the two paths improves the overall immunity of the system to fading This is because the two paths will experience different fading effects. Therefore, if the recάvα cannot recάve the signal ova one path due to fading then it will probably still be able to receive the signal ova the otha path, because the fading that effected the first path will not effect the second As a result, spatial divasity improves overall system perfomiance by improving the Bit -Error -Rate (B?ER) in the recάvα, which effectively increases the deliverable data rate to the receivα, i.e., increase the bandwidth For effective spatial diversity, base stations 1112 and 1114 ideally transmit the same information at the same time ova the same sub-channels. As mentioned above, each base station in system 1100 is configured to transmit simultaneously, i.e., system 1100 is a TDM system with synchronized base stations. -Base stations 1112 and 1114 also assigned the same sub-channels to device 1116 in stφ 2708. Therefore, all that is left is to ensure t-hat base stations 1112 and 1114 send the same information Accordingly, the information communicated to device 1116 by base stations 1112 and 1114 is preferably coordinated so that the same information is transmitted at the same time. The mechanism for enabling this coordination is discussed more fully below. Such coordination, howevα, also allows encoding that can provide turthα performance enhancements within system 1100 and allow a gjeaterpeitcαilageofme unused bandwidlhtorje recovered One example coordinated encoding scheme that can be implemented between base stations 1112 and 1114 with respect to communications with device 1116 is Space-Tim&Ccding (STC) divasity. STC is illustrated by system 2800 in figure 28. In system 2800, trananitter 2802 transmits a message ova channel 2808 to recάvα 2806. Simultaneously, transmittα 2804 transmits a message ova channel 2810 torecάvα2806. -Because channels 2808 and 2810 are independent, system 2800 will have -spatial divasity with reφect to communications from transmitters 2802 and 2804 to recάvα 2806. In addition, howevα, the date trananitted by each transmitter 2802 and -2804 can be encoded to also provide time diversity. The following equations illustrate the process of enccdi-ng and decoding date ma ST -ystem, a First, channel 2808 can be denoted h_n and channel 2810 can be denoted,^, where: h_n =a> , arή (1) &=<*#. (2) Second, we can look at two blocks of date 2812a and 2812b to be transmitted by transmitter 2802 as illustrated in figure 28. Blcck2812acomprisesN---ymbolsde-notedasaa «/. «2 _", aN-ι,oτa(0:N-l). Block 2812b transmits N-symbols of date denoted b(0: N-l). Transmitter 2804 simultaneously transmits two block of date 2814aand2814b. Block 2814a is the negative invase coηjugste of block 2812b and can therefore be described as -b*(N-l:0). Block 2814b is the inverse conjugate ofblock 2812a and can therefore be described as a*(N-l:0). It should be noted that each block of data in the forgoing description will preferably comprise a cyclical prefix as described above. When blocks 2812a, 2812b, 2814a, and 2814b are recάved in recάvα 2806, they are combined and decoded in the following manner: First, the blocks will be combined in the recάvα to form the following blocks, aftα discarding the cyclical prefix: Blockl = a(0:N-l) ®h_n - b*(N-l:0) ®g_n; and (3) Blodά = b(0:-N-l) ®h_n + a*(N-l:0) ®g_rt (4) Where the symbol ® represents a c>clic convolution Second, by teking an IFFT of the blocks, the blocks can be described as: Blockl =A_n*H_n-B * *G_n, and (5) Block2 =B_n*H_n-A *>G_n. (6) Where«=0toN-7. In equations (5) and (6) H„ and G„ will be known, or can be estimated. But to solve the two equations and determine A,, and E_m it is prefaable to turn equations (5) and (6) into two equations with two unknowns. This can be achieved using estimated signals - £ and Y_n as follows: X_n =A_n *H_n-B * .G„,arΔ (1) Y_H =B„ *H„ +A_n* .G» (8) To genaate two equations and two unknowns, the conjugate of Y„ can be used to generate the following two equations:

Y_n* =B„* .H„* +A„ .Gn* (10) Thus, the two unknowns are ,, andE„* and equations (9) and (10) define amatrix relationship in terms of these two unknowns as follows:

Which can be rewritten as:

Signak4,andE_ncanbedetenτιined using equatiσn(12). It should be noted, that the process just described is not the only way to implement STC. Othα methods can also be implemented in accordance with the systems and methods described herein Importantly, howevα, by adding time diversity, such as described in the preceding equations, to the φace diversity already achieved by using base stations 1112 and 1114 to communicate with device 1116 simultaneously, theB-ER can be reduced even furthα to recovα even more bandwidth. An example transmitter 2900 configured to communicate us-ingST ina-xcϊdancewiththe-ystemsandmediods described herein is illustrated in figure 29. Transmittα 2900 includes a block storage device 2902, a serial-toparallel converter 2904, aicodα 2906, and antenna 2908. Block storage device 2902 is included in transmitter 2900 because a 1 block delay is necessary to implement the coding illustrated in figure 28. This is because trananitter 2804 first transmits -b„* (n =N-l to0). ?Butb„ is the second block, so if trananitter 2900 is going to transmit -b fi-tst,rt must store two blocks, e.g,<-^ and b,„ and then gaierate block 2814a and 2814b(see figure 28). Serial-to-parallel converter 2904 generates parallel bit streams from the bits ofblocks a_n and b„. -Enccdα 2906 then aicodes the bit streams as required, e.g, enccdα 2906 can gaierate -b_n* and a_n* (see blocks -2814a and 2814b in figure 28). The encoded blocks are then combined into a single transmit signal as described above and transmitted via antenna 2908. Trananitter 2900 preferably uses TDM to transmit messages to recάvα 2806. An alternative transmitter 3000 embcdimait that uses FDM is illustrated in figure 30. Transmittα 3000 also includes block storage device 3002, aserial-to- parallel converter 3004, encodα 3006, and antenna 3008, which are configured to perform in tiie same mannα as the correφonding components in transmitter 2900. -But in addition, transmittα 3000 includes IFFTs 3010 to take the IFF ! of the blocks generated by enccdα 2906. Thus, transmitter 3000 transmits -B_n* and A,,* as opposed to -b„* and α„* which provides space, fiequaicy, and time diversity. Figure 31 illust-rates an alternative system 3100 that abuses FDM but to elimina-tes the l blcκ;kctekyasscd^ with transmitters 2900 and 3000. In system 3100, trananitter 3102 transmits ova channel 3112 to recάvα 3116. Trananitter 3106 transmits ova channel 3114 to receivα 3116. As with transmittαs 2802 and 2804, transmitters 3102 and 3106 implanait an e-ncoding scheme designed to recovα bandwidth in system 3100. In system 3100, howevα, the coordinated encoding occurs at the symbol level instead of the block leveL Thus, for exanple, transmitter 3102 can transmit blcid 3104 ccniprising symbols αftα_/,α₂, and α^. In which case, transmitter 3106 will transmit a block 3108 comprising symbols -af*, ao* -ΛJ*, and α₂* As can be seen, this is the same encoding scheme used by transmitters 2802 and 2804, but implanaited at the symbol level instead of the block level As such, there is no need to delay one block before trananittir-g An IF T^' of each block 3104 and 3108 can then be taken and tranariitted using ?FDM An FT 3110 ofblock 3104 is shown in figure 31 for purposes of illustration Channels 3112 and 3114 can be described by H; and G,„ respectively. Thus, in receivα 3116 the following symbols will be formed: (A₀.H₀)-(A,* »Go) (A, .H,)+(Ao* .G₁) (A₂.H₂)-(A₃* .G2) (A₃.H₃)+(A2* .G3). fatime,eachsyml-»l^ (H = 0to.^occupiesas^ In frequency, each symbol A„ (n = 0 to 3) occupies a sligjHly different frequency. Thus, each symbol A„ is transmitted ova a slightly diffaeπt channel ie., H„ (n = 0 to 3) or G„(n = 0 to 3), which results in the combinations above. As can be seen, the symbol combinations formed in the receivα are of the same form as equations (5) and (6) and, therefore, can be solved in the same mannα, but without the one block delay. In ordα to implement STC or Space Frequency Coding (SF diversity as described above, bases stations 1112 and 1114 must be able to coordinate encoding of the symbols that are simultaneously sent to a particular device, such as device 1116 or 1118. Fortunately, base stations 1112 and 1114 are preferably interfaced with a common network interface servα. For example, in a -LAN, base stations 1112 and 1114 (which would actually be service access points in the case of a -LAN) are interfaced with a common network interface savα that connects the -LAN to a largα network such as a -Public Switched Telφhone Network (PSTN). Similarly, in a wireless WAN, base stations 1112 and 1114 are typically interfaced with a common base station control center or mobile switching center. Thus, c-cordination of the encoding can be enabled via the common connection with the network interface savα. -Bases station 1112 and 1114 can then be configured to share information through mis common connection related to communications with devices at the edge of cells 1104 and 1106. The sharing of information, in turn, allows time or fiequaicy divasity coding as described above. It should be noted that othα forms of diversity, such as polarization diversity or delay diversity, can also be combined with the spatial diversity in a communication system designed in accordance with the systems and methods described herein The goal being to combine alternative forms of diversity with the -spatial diversity in ordα to recovα largα amounts of bandwidth It should also be noted, that the systems and methods described can be applied regardless of he numbα ofbase stations, devices, and communication cells involved. Briefly, delay diversity can preferably be achieved in accordance with the systems and methods described herein by cyclical shifting the trananitted blocks. For example, one transmitter can transmit a block comprising Ac Ai , A₂, and A₃ in mat orda, while the othα transmittα transmits the symbols in the following oidα A₃, AQ, AI, and A₂. Therefore, it can be seen that the second transmitter trananits a cyclically shifted version of the block transmitted by the first transmitter. Futthα, the shifted block can be cyclically shifted by more then one symbol of required by a particular implementation 9. Diversity As mentioned above, some form of spatial diversity can be incorporated into a receivα configured in accordance with the systems and methods described herein For example, as illust-rated in figure 32, a recάvα 3200 configured in aαordance with the syste-ms and metlxxlsde are interfaced with a recάve radio circuit 3208 via a switching module 3206. Receive radio circuit 3208 can in turn be interfaced with a baseband circuit 3210 that can be configured to prxx^ssagrtals received by antermas 3202 and 3204. As can be seen, when transmittα 3212 transmits a signal each of antennas 3202 and 3204 can recάve multiple versions of the signal ie., each antenna will recάve a plurality of multipalh signals. In one embodiment, the signal quality for the signals bang recάved by antenna 3202 can be assessed, then the signal ^ty for the signakrecάved by antenna 3204 can be subsequently assessed. Switching module 3206 can then be controlled such that the antenna with the better signal quality is selected It should be noted that signal quality can be measured in a variety of ways. For example, signal strength, SNR, bit error rate, etc. Furthα, the assessment can, depending on the embodiment, be made in άthα radio recάve circuit 3208 or baseband circuit 3210. For purposes of illustration, if the signal trananitted by tran-anitter 3212 is d-^^ for antenna 3202, for example, can be represented as: y t)=oι,*x(t-7₁)+ ,₂*x(t-τ₂)+θ4₃*x(t-τ₃)+ ... In othα words, the recάve signal is the combination of attenuated versions of each of the multipalh signals -Each multipalh signal is also delayed, e-g, out of phase, with the othα multipath signals. This can be illustrated by the graph in figure 33, which illustrates the results of correlating the multipath signals recάved by antenna 3202. The delay φread (dsi) for antenna 3202 can be seen to be the time from when the first signal is receded to the time the last muhφath is recάved Once all multipalh signals are ∞rnbined, the snbmed signal can be rφresented as o*c (), where: a, =041 +042 +^QJ3 + ... Thus, for example, if 0-₁ is largα than < , thai antenna 3202 can be switched in via switching module 3206 instead of antenna 3204, or vis versa The signal recάved by one antenna can become more attenuated than the signal being recάved by anotha when, for example, the delay between multipalhs is too small ie, the delay φread (dj is anall compared to the symbol duration When this occurs, the multipath signals can combine destructively. This type of situation is referred to as a flat fading and is the worst type of fading that can effect a wireless communications syste But, do to the diversity provided by having more than one antenna, if one antenna is experiencing flat fading then the othα antenna should be fine. Thus, by providing divasity such as that dφicted in figure 32, improved recάvαpαformance can be achieved The diversity scheme dφicted in figure 32 is referred to as spartial divasity. A problem with divasity, howevα, can occur when the signals quality for each aπ-mia approximately the same. This is not such a problem ifthesignal quality foreachantenr-aisgooclbiirtcanbeaproblemtfthea In such a situation, it is preferable to use the recάve signals from more than one antenna Figure 34 is a diagram of a recάvα ?3400 t-hat can be configured to do just that in accordance wi the systems and methods described herein The diversity provided by recάvα 3400 can be referred to as path diversity. Instead of dάe-tmining which antenna has the best associated signal qua and then switching to that antenna, r^^ signals being recάved by subsequent antennas so that signals from all antennas can be decoded independently and then combined in baseband circuit 3416. Thus, for example, signals recάved by antennas -3404 and 3406 can be delayed by delay blacks -3408 and -3410, reφectively. The signals from each antenna can men be combined, e.g, by combinα 3412 and processed by recάve radio circuit 3414 and baseband circuit 3416. In one embodiment, for example, maximum ratio combining can be used by baseband circuit 3416 to process the signals from the plurality of antennas. The delay applied to each subsequent antenna should be suffiάent to αisure that processing of agnals -from one antenna will not interfere with the processing of signals from anotha. -Depending on the embodimait, the delay can be static or dynamic or a combination ofboth. For example, in certain environments, such as a fixed indoor environment, it is posable to know what the transmit time from transmitter to re ve anter-na^ι-ύdbe asweU as thema-ximιιm detey--pead forthe recάve antenna In such situations, the delays can be set such that they are longer t-han me ctelay φread ( so that processing of signals from various antennas does not overlap. The delays should not need to be changed unless the trananittα andor rεcάvα are moved In more dynamic environments, howevα, the delays can be set dynamically. For example, the signals from antenna 3402 can be recάved and processed, with the delay φread (ds) for antenna 3402 being determined -Baseband άicuitry 3416 can be configured to then set delay 3408 to be slightly longα than the delay φread (d^ as determined for antenna 3402. Subsequent delays can then be set in a similar mannα to avoid intαfaence in the processing of title signals recάved by the various antennas. It should be noted that the (dj used for detemiining the delay to be applied by the delay blocks can be based on the average delay φread or on the maximum delay φread as required by a particular implementation In anotha embodiment, a fixed delay can be used initially, with dynamic updates as recjui-red by the environment, or changes therein -ft should also be noted t-hat ina dynamic embodiment, the cteteys can be cxmtinuously updated, or they can be updated paicdically or non-pericdically as opposed to continually. The 3in in signal to noise ratio (SNR) that can be achieved using path diversi-tycanbe significarit For example, if there is only one path, then the SNR is:

where: N₀ = Noise leveL In a typical multipath situation with one antenna

In the recάvα of figure 34, howevα, the SNR is:

Accordingly, it can be seen that implemaitetion of path divasity can improve performance significantly, especially combined with othα of the systems and methods described herein While embodiments and implemaitations of the invention have been shown and described, it should be φparent that many more enibcdiments and implementations are within the scope of the invention Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted, except in light of the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

What is claimed: 1. A recάvα, comprising a first antenna configured to recάve wireless signals; a second antenna configured to recάve wireless signals; a delay block coupled with the second antenna, the delay configured to delay the wireless signals recάved by the second antenna; and a combinα configured to combine the wireless signals recάved by the first antenna and the delayed wireless signals recάved by the second antenna; and a baseband circuit configured to process the cxjrnbined wireless signals. 2. The receivα of claim 1, wherein the delay block is configured to delay the wireless signals recάved by the second antenna by a fixed delay. 3. Therecewαofclaim2,whereinmefkedcfeteyista 4. The recάvα of claim 1, wherein the baseband circuit is configured to dynamically update the delay applied by the delay block. 5. The recάvα of claim 4, wherein the baseband circuit is configured to determine a delay spread for the wireless signals recάved by the first antenna and to dynamically update the delay applied by the delay block to the wireless signals recάved by the second antenna base don the delay spread determined for the wireless signals recaved by the first antenna 6. The recάvα of claim 5, wherein the delay φread determined for the wireless signals recάved by the first antenna is the average delay φread. 7. The recάvα of claim 5, wherein the delay φread determined for the wireless signals recάved by the first antenna is the maximum delay φread. 8. The receivα of claim 4, wherein the baseband circuit is configured to continually dynamically update the delay applied by the delay block. 9. The recάvα of claim 4, wherein the baseband circuit is configured to periodically dynamically update the delay applied by the delay block. 10. The recάvα of claim 4, wherein the baseband circuit is configured to non-paiodically dynamically update the delay applied by the delay block. 11. The recάvα of claim 1, wherein the baseband circuit is configured to use maximum ratio combining to process the combined wireless agnals. 12. The recάvα of claim 1 , furthα comprising a plurality of antennas configured to receive wireless signals, and a plurality of delay blocks interfaced with the plurality of antennas, the plurality of delay blocks configured to delay the wireless signals received by the plurality of antennas. 13. A wirele-s communication system, comprising. a trananitter configured to trananit wireless signals; and a recάvα comprising a first antenna configured to recάve the wireless signals trananitted by the transmittα, a second antenna configured to receive the wireless signals t-ranarώted by the t-rananitter, a delay block coupled with the second antenna, the delay configured to delay the wireless signals recaved by the second antenna, and a combinα configured to combine the wireless signals recάved by the first antenna and the delayed wireless signals recάved by the second antenna, and a baseband circuit configured to process tiie cx-mibined wireless signals. 14. The wireless communication system of claim 13, wherein tiie delay block is configured to delay the wireless signals recάved by the second antenna by a fixed delay. 15. The wireless communication system of claim 14, whaein the fixed delay is based on a known delay φread. 16. The wireless communication system of claim 13, whaein the baseband circuit is configured to dynamically update the delay applied by the delay block. 11. The wireless communication system of claim 16, wherein the baseband circuit is configured to determine a delay φread for the wireless signals recάved by the first antenna and to dynamically update the delay applied by the delay block to the wireless signals recάved by the second antenna based on the delay φread determined for the wireless signals received by the first antenna 18. The wireless communication system of claim 17, wherein the delay spread determined for the wireless signals received by the first antenna is the average delay -spread. 19. The wireless communication system of claim 17, wherein the delay -spread determined for the wireless signals received by the first antenna is the maximum delay φread. 20. The wireless communication system of claim 16, wherein the baseband circuit is configured to continually dynamically update the delay applied by the delay block. 21. The wireless communication system of claim 16, wherein the baseband αrcuit is configured to periodically dynamically update the delay applied by the delay block. 22. The wireless communication system of claim 16, whaein the baseband άrcuit is configured to nonperiodically dynamically update the delay applied by the delay block. 23. The wireless communication system of claim 13, wherein the baseband circuit is configured to use maximum ratio combining to process the combined wireless signals. 24. The wireless communication system of claim 24, wherein the recάvα furthα comprises a plurality of antennas configured to recάve wireless signals, and a plurality of delay blocks interfaced with the plurality of antennas, the plurality of delay blocks configured to delay the wireless signals recάved by the plurality of antennas 25. The wireless ccmmuriication system of claim 13, wherein tiie trananittα comprises a plurality of antennas. 26. A method for receiving wireless signals, comprising receiving a first wireless signal with a first antenna; receiving a second wireless signal with a second antenna; delaying the wireless signal recάved by the second antenna a certain amount; and combining the wireless signal recάved by the first antenna and the delayed wireless signal recάved by the second antenna; and processing the combined wireless signal 27. The method of claim 26, wherein delaying the wireless signals recάved by tiie second antenna comprises delaying the wireless signals by a fixed delay. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the fixed delay is based on a known delay spread. 29. The method of claim 26, furtiia comprising dynanticaltyi-pdat-ing the certain amount of delay. 30. The metiiedofclaim 29, furthα comprising d signals recάved by the first antenna and dynamically updating the certain amount of delay applied to the wireless signals recάved by the second antenna based on the delay φread determined for the wireless signals received by the first antenna 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the delay φread determined for the wireless signals recάved by the first ant -na is the average delay φread 32. The method of claim 30, wherein the delay spread determined for the wireless signals recάved by the first antenna is the maximum delay φread 33. The method of claim 29, furthα comprising continually dynamically updating the certain amount of delay. 34. The method of claim 29, furthα comprising periodically dynamically updating the certain amount of delay. 35. The method of claim 29, furthα comprisi-ng nonpericdically dynamically updating the certain amount of delay. 36. The method of claim 26, wherein processing the combined wireless signals comprises applying maximum ratio combining to the combined wireless signals.