Data transmission system and method using nQAM constellation with a control channel superimposed on a user data channel

US6538986B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• STMICROELECTRONICS N.V. · NL

Inventors

• Mikael Isaksson · Luleå, SE
• Magnus Johansson · Luleå, SE
• Harry Tonvall · Luleå, SE
• Lennart Olsson · Luleå, SE
• Tomas Stefansson · Luleå, SE
• Hans Ohman · Luleå, SE
• Gunnar Bahlenberg · Luleå, SE
• Anders Isaksson · Luleå, SE
• Goran Okvist · Luleå, SE
• Lis-Marie Ljunggren · Luleå, SE
• Tomas Nordstrom · Luleå, SE
• Lars-Ake Isaksson · Luleå, SE
• Daniel Bengtsson · Luleå, SE
• Siwert Hakansson · Luleå, SE
• Ye Wen · Luleå, SE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 1, 1999
• Grant date: Mar 25, 2003
• Expiry date: Jun 1, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04L1/0071
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A transmission system using nQAM. A control channel is superimposed on a nQAM data channel. It is desirable to separate control channel data from user data without using a higher level protocol layer. In multi-carrier systems with variable bit-loading it is particularly desirable that the control channel data be separable from user data when the value of n. that is the bit-loading, or constellation identifier are unknown. Binary data is transmitted using nQAM modulation. The binary data includes both user data and control data. This means that a control channel is superimposed on a user data channel within the same nQAM constellation. Separation of the control data is facilitated by arranging control data points to have either a unique phase or unique amplitude values. These unique values are not employed for user data points.