Method and apparatus for improving throughput and error performance of rateless coding systems

1. A method for adaptively adjusting data communications of a rateless channel coding system, said method comprising:

adaptively estimating a symbol coding length based on channel conditions through training signals;

a first act of determining a symbol threshold, wherein the symbol threshold is a product of a time duration before a deadline and a symbol rate;

a second act of determining if said adaptively estimated symbol coding length is less than said symbol threshold;

adjusting a transmission power level based on said second determining act; and

adaptively adjusting a modulation scheme based on said second determining act.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving channel condition information;

determining said modulation scheme;

determining said transmission power level; and

wherein said adaptively estimated symbol coding length is based on said channel condition information, said modulation scheme and said transmission power level.

3. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising:

determining a time duration allocated for the data communications before a deadline;

determining a symbol rate of said rateless communication system; and

wherein said symbol threshold is based on said time duration and said symbol rate.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said transmission power level is decreased if said adaptively estimated symbol coding length is less than said symbol threshold.

5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein said transmission power level is increased up to a maximum possible transmission power level if said modulation scheme is equal to a highest order modulation scheme of said rateless communication system and said adaptively estimated symbol coding length is one of greater than and equal to said symbol threshold.

6. The method according to claim 3 , wherein said modulation scheme is adaptively adjusted if said modulation scheme is less than a highest order modulation scheme of said rateless communication system and said adaptively estimated symbol coding length is one of greater than and equal to said symbol threshold.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said rateless communication system is a block-based rateless coding system and further wherein adaptive adjustments to said modulation scheme are performed on a block-by-block basis.

8. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising:

determining an adaptive scaling factor based on said channel condition information; and

applying said scaling factor to determine said adaptively estimated symbol coding length.

9. A system for adaptively adjusting data communications of a rateless channel coding system, comprising:

means for adaptively estimating a symbol coding length based on channel conditions estimated through training signals;

a first means for determining a symbol threshold, and wherein the symbol threshold is a product of a time duration before a deadline and a symbol rate;

a second means for determining if said adaptively estimated symbol coding length is less than said symbol threshold;

means for adjusting a transmission power level based on said second determining means; and

means for adaptively adjusting a modulation scheme based on said second determining means.

10. The system according to claim 9 , further comprising:

means for receiving channel condition information;

means for determining said modulation scheme;

means for determining said transmission power level; and

wherein said adaptively estimated symbol coding length is based on said channel condition information, said modulation scheme and said transmission power level.

11. The system according to claim 10 , further comprising:

means for determining a time duration allocated for the data communications before a deadline;

means for determining a symbol rate of said rateless communication system; and

wherein said symbol threshold is based on said time duration and said symbol rate of said rateless communication system.

12. The system according to claim 9 , wherein said transmission power level is decreased if said adaptively estimated symbol coding length is less than said symbol threshold.

13. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said transmission power level is increased up to a maximum possible transmission power level if said modulation scheme is equal to a highest order modulation scheme of said rateless communication system and said adaptively estimated symbol coding length is one of greater than and equal to said symbol threshold.

14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein said modulation scheme is adaptively adjusted if said modulation scheme is less than said highest order modulation scheme of said rateless communication system and said adaptively estimated symbol coding length is one of greater than and equal to said symbol threshold.

15. The system according to claim 9 , wherein said rateless communication system is a block-based rateless coding system and further wherein adaptive adjustments to said modulation scheme are performed on a block-by-block basis.

16. The system according to claim 10 , further comprising:

determining an adaptive scaling factor based on said channel condition information; and

applying said scaling factor to determine said adaptively estimated symbol coding length.

17. A method for decoding communication of a rateless channel coding system, said method comprising: receiving encoded symbols;

determining a threshold number of encoded symbols, wherein said threshold is an adaptively estimated symbol coding length and wherein the symbol threshold is a product of a time duration before a deadline and a symbol rate;

determining if a length of said received encoded symbols is greater than said threshold number of encoded symbols; and

decoding said received encoded symbols if said length of said received encoded symbols is greater than said threshold number of encoded symbols.

18. The method according to claim 17 , further comprising:

estimating channel conditions;

determining an adaptive length estimation based on said estimated channel conditions; and

determining said threshold number of encoded symbols based on said adaptive length estimation.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein said estimated channel conditions include a signal-to-noise ratio.

20. The method according to claim 18 , wherein said channel conditions are estimated based on a training signal.

21. An apparatus for decoding communication of a rateless channel coding system, comprising:

means for receiving encoded symbols;

means for determining a threshold number of encoded symbols,

and wherein said threshold in an adaptively estimated symbol coding length and wherein the symbol threshold is a product of a time duration before a deadline and a symbol rate; means for determining if a length of said received encoded symbols is greater than said threshold number of required encoded symbols; and

means for decoding said received encoded symbols if said length of said received encoded symbols is greater than said threshold number of encoded symbols.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21 , further comprising:

means for estimating channel conditions;

means for determining an adaptive length estimation based on said estimated channel conditions; and

means for determining said threshold number of encoded symbols based on said adaptive length estimation.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein said estimated channel conditions include a signal-to-noise ratio.

24. The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein said channel conditions are estimated based on a training signal.