Hierarchical modulation for unicast streams

1. A method for performing hierarchical modulation by an access node within a communications network, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying, by the access node, a plurality of user devices within the communications network for hierarchical modulation reception at least by:

acquiring data about the user devices within the communications network, the data comprising channel quality information; and

determining which user device of the identified user devices for hierarchical modulation reception is to receive a base layer and which user device of the identified user devices for hierarchical modulation reception is to receive an enhanced layer at least by:

distributing the user devices into the base layer based on modulation schemes comprising a most robust modulation and an intermediate modulation and into the enhanced layer based on modulation schemes comprising the intermediate modulation and a least robust modulation; and

sending, via a transceiver in the access node, control information to each of the identified user devices, the control information comprising an identification of a shared radio resource for use by two of the identified user devices in support of hierarchical modulation reception.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving a measurement report from a user device, wherein the measurement report comprises the channel quality information.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of mapping a base layer stream and an enhanced layer stream into a hierarchical modulation transmission, wherein the base layer stream is designated for reception by the identified user device determined to receive the base layer and the enhanced layer stream is designated for reception by the identified user device determined to receive the enhanced layer.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control information indicates an assigned layer in hierarchical modulation for the respective identified user device.

5. The method of claim 1 , the step of identifying further comprises:

excluding the user devices having the data not allowing hierarchical modulation, wherein the data comprises service level agreements (SLAs) or quality of service (QoS) profiles.

6. The method of claim 1 , the step of distributing further comprises:

for the user devices operating at the most robust modulation, checking the measurement report received from each of the user devices to determine whether a signal quality of a signal received by the user device allows hierarchical modulation; and

determining the user device for hierarchical modulation reception is to receive the base layer if the signal quality allows hierarchical modulation.

7. The method of claim 1 , the step of distributing further comprises:

for the user devices operating at the least robust modulation, checking whether each of the user devices is capable of supporting hierarchical modulation; and

determining the user device for hierarchical modulation reception is to receive the enhanced layer if the user device is capable of supporting hierarchical modulation.

8. The method of claim 1 , the step of distributing further comprises:

for the user devices operating at the intermediate modulation, checking whether each of the user devices is capable of supporting hierarchical modulation;

checking the measurement report received from each of the user devices capable of supporting hierarchical modulation to determine whether a signal quality of a signal received by the user device allows hierarchical modulation;

determining the user device is to receive both the base layer and the enhanced layer if the signal quality allows hierarchical modulation with the user device receiving the base layer; and

determining the user device is to receive the enhanced layer if the signal quality does not allow hierarchical modulation with the user device receiving the base layer.

9. A method for hierarchical modulation reception by a user equipment within a communications network, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a channel quality information;

receiving, via a transceiver in the user equipment in response to transmitting the channel quality information, control information from an access node indicating an assigned layer of hierarchical modulation designated for the user equipment;

receiving, via the transceiver in the user equipment, a hierarchical modulated transmission comprising a base layer and an enhanced layer, wherein the base layer comprises a transmission under a most robust modulation and a transmission under an intermediate modulation, the enhanced layer comprises a transmission under the intermediate modulation and a transmission under a least robust modulation from the access node; and

utilizing only the assigned layer of the received hierarchical modulated transmission.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the control information further comprises an identification of a shared radio resource for use in hierarchical modulation reception by the user equipment.