Hybrid ARQ transmission method with effective channel matrix and decision statistics resetting

1. A method for decoding of multiple wireless signals by a chase combining hybrid-automatic-repeat-request CC-HARQ receiver, comprising the steps of:

demodulating wireless signals received from respective mobile sources using an effective channel matrix and decision statistics;

updating log-likelihood-ratios LLRs and decoding the received codewords using the corresponding updated LLRs;

determining set of correctly decoded codewords using a cyclic redundancy check;

updating the effective channel matrix and decision statistics responsive to the step of determining; and

resetting the effective channel matrix and decision statistics, in the event that the number of decoding errors for a codeword exceeds its maximum limit, after storing the updated LLRs of all remaining erroneously decoded codewords for which the number of decoding errors is below the respective maximum limit.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the effective channel matrix and decision statistics are recursively updated pre-demodulation using their previously stored values and the current channel matrix and received observations.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the effective channel matrix and decision statistics are recursively updated post decoding after reconstructing the correctly decoded codewords.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the LLRs are updated by combining the current LLR estimates with the corresponding estimates stored when the number of decoding errors for a codeword exceeds its maximum limit.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiver may choose not to demodulate and decode some or all of the codewords and decide that these codewords were decoded erroneously.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of transmitting back to a respective mobile user a signal-to-noise-ratio responsive to a correct decoding of a signal from the respective mobile source.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the signal-to-noise-ratio is computed using the updated effective channel matrix, the channel estimates for the next round and the fact that the erroneously decoded codewords that have not reached their maximum respective repetition limits will be re-transmitted.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of transmitting back to a respective mobile user a signal-to-noise-ratio responsive to a packet error being declared for the signal from the respective mobile source.