Abstract:

Improved ways of communicating assignment signals using flash signaling are described, e.g., for wireless terminals with low SNR, that are more robust against large variation of channel gains due to e.g., frequency selective fading and fast fading in time. Coding and modulation methods and apparatus that have excellent properties against symbol erasures are described. The use of flash signaling provides an improved assignment channel having strong performance on the fading channel without compromising the performance on the AWGN channel. In one exemplary embodiment, the coding and modulation method can tolerate up to 5 erased symbols out of 8 transmitted symbols. One embodiment reduces or minimizes the sector interference on the flash assignment by improving or maximizing orthogonality between different sectors. In addition, one embodiment describes improved ways of swapping flash assignment tone-symbols in the presence other high priority signals, like sector pilots and sector null pilots.

Description:

FIELD

The invention relates to a wireless communications system. More particularly, the invention relates to methods and apparatus for communicating overhead signals.

BACKGROUND

Communications system frequently include a plurality of network nodes which are coupled to access nodes, e.g., base stations, through which end nodes, e.g., wireless terminals, are coupled to the network.

In a wireless communication system, effective utilization of the network resources, such as spectrum, requires a base station to efficiently assign wireless terminals for reception and transmission in available traffic channels. Often, to enhance the resource utilization, a dedicated traffic assignment channel, or channel of that nature, is implemented in a wireless communication system. Frequently, the problem in designing traffic assignment channel arises from the fact that assignment channel has to reac ...

Acoustic wave device with adhesive layer and method of manufacturing the same