Methods and systems for providing dynamic bandwidth adaptation in wireless systems

1. A method for altering a channel bandwidth in a wireless system, the method comprising:

sending a report request message to a wireless device, wherein the report request message comprises a request for an indicator of an ability of the wireless device to change the channel bandwidth from a first channel bandwidth to a second channel bandwidth;

receiving a report response message from the wireless device at an access node, wherein the report response message comprises a channel condition for the wireless device;

changing the channel bandwidth from the first channel bandwidth to the second channel bandwidth based upon the channel condition;

monitoring the channel condition to determine if the channel condition deteriorates; and

altering the channel bandwidth to decrease a number of subchannels if the channel condition deteriorates,

wherein the channel condition is determined to have deteriorated when there is a deterioration in at least one of a carrier interference to noise ratio and a received signal strength indication, and wherein altering the channel bandwidth to decrease the number of subchannels if the channel condition deteriorates comprises sending a bandwidth alteration message to the wireless device to direct the wireless device to utilize the decreased number of subchannels.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the channel condition comprises a carrier interference to noise ratio.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the channel condition is determined to have improved when there is an improvement in the carrier interference to noise ratio.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the channel bandwidth comprises one or more subcarriers.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring the channel condition to determine if the channel bandwidth requires adjustment.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising adjusting the channel bandwidth to a third channel bandwidth from the second channel bandwidth when the channel condition changes.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

monitoring the channel condition to determine if the channel condition improves; and

altering the channel bandwidth to increase a number of subchannels if the channel condition improves.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the channel condition is determined to have improved when there is an improvement in a carrier interference to noise ratio.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the channel condition is determined to have improved when there is an improvement in a received signal strength indication.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein altering the channel bandwidth to increase the number of subchannels if the channel condition improves comprises:

sending a bandwidth alteration message to the wireless device to direct the wireless device to utilize the increased number of subchannels.

11. A method for altering a channel bandwidth in a wireless system, the method comprising:

receiving at a wireless device a report request message from an access node, wherein the report request message requests an indicator of an ability of the wireless device to change the channel bandwidth from a first channel bandwidth to a second channel bandwidth;

sending a report response message from the wireless device to the access node, wherein the report response message comprises a channel condition for the wireless device and the indicator of the ability of the wireless device to change the channel bandwidth from the first channel bandwidth to the second channel bandwidth;

changing the channel bandwidth from the first channel bandwidth to the second channel bandwidth based upon the channel condition;

monitoring the channel condition to determine if the channel condition improves or deteriorates;

altering the channel bandwidth to increase a number of subchannels if the channel condition improves, and

altering the channel bandwidth to decrease a number of subchannels if the channel condition deteriorates,

wherein the channel condition is determined to have improved when there is an improvement in at least one of a carrier interference to noise ratio and a received signal strength indication, and wherein altering the channel bandwidth to increase the number of subchannels if the channel condition improves comprises receiving a bandwidth alteration message directing the wireless device to utilize the increased number of subchanne.

12. A method for altering a channel bandwidth in a wireless system, the method comprising:

receiving at a wireless device a report request message from an access node, wherein the report request message requests an indicator of an ability of the wireless device to change the channel bandwidth from a first channel bandwidth to a second channel bandwidth;

sending a report response message from the wireless device to the access node, wherein the report response message comprises a channel condition for the wireless device and the indicator of the ability of the wireless device to change the channel bandwidth from the first channel bandwidth to the second channel bandwidth;

changing the channel bandwidth from the first channel bandwidth to the second channel bandwidth based upon the channel condition;

monitoring the channel condition to determine if the channel condition deteriorates;

altering the channel bandwidth to decrease a number of subchannels if the channel condition deteriorates,

wherein the channel condition is determined to have deteriorated when there is deterioration in at least one of a carrier interference to noise ratio and a received signal strength indication, and wherein altering the channel bandwidth to decrease the number of subchannels if the channel condition deteriorates comprises receiving a bandwidth alteration message directing the wireless device to utilize the decreased number of subchannels.