HK1151145A - Random reuse based control channels - Google Patents

Description

Control channel based on random reuse

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 60/988,498 entitled "randomrose BASED CONTROL CHANNELS" filed on 16.11.2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The following description relates generally to wireless communications, and more particularly to transmitting control information over a wireless communication channel.

Background

Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various communication contents such as voice, data, and the like. A typical wireless communication system may be a multiple-access system that supports communication for multiple users by sharing available system resources (e.g., bandwidth, transmit power … …). Examples of such multiple-access systems include Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) systems, Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) systems, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) systems, and the like. Additionally, these systems may conform to specifications such as third generation partnership project (3GPP), 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE), 3GPP2, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), and so forth.

Generally, wireless multiple-access communication systems may simultaneously support communication for multiple mobile devices. Each mobile device communicates with one or more base stations via transmissions on the forward and reverse links. The forward link (or downlink) refers to the communication link from the base stations to the mobile devices, and the reverse link (or uplink) refers to the communication link from the mobile devices to the base stations. Moreover, communications between mobile devices and base stations can be established over single-input single-output (SISO) systems, multiple-input single-output (MISO) systems, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, and so forth. Additionally, mobile devices can communicate with other mobile devices (and/or base stations having other base stations) in a peer-to-peer wireless network configuration.

MIMO systems typically utilize multiple (N)_T) A transmitting antenna and a plurality of (N)_R) And a receiving antenna for data transmission. The antennas can be associated with both base stations and mobile devices, which in one example allow for two-way communication between devices on a wireless network. Base stations can be deployed heterogeneously so that mobile devices can connect to the base station, or other access point, from the perspective of signal strength or qualityAnd may not be the most desirable base station in view. For example, a mobile device may use a home-based access point for reasons related to security, service availability, and so forth; however, the access point may be physically close to the base station, and the strong signal strength of the base station may interfere with communications between the mobile device and the access point. The reverse is true where a device communicating with the base station comes within range of a residential access point. Thus, interference may be less consistent and less predictable than in conventional deployments.

Disclosure of Invention

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

In accordance with one or more embodiments and corresponding disclosure thereof, various aspects are described in connection with facilitating eliminating (blank) or reducing power on a portion of a communication channel associated with one or more devices transmitting control information. The control channel used to transmit the control information may be reused randomly by one or more devices transmitting data by multiplexing control information over multiple portions of the channel. In this regard, the chance of interference for transmitting all portions of the data is reduced, but the data can still be determined if there can be some number of channel portions for estimation and decoding.

According to related aspects, a method of facilitating communication of control information in a wireless network is provided. The method includes receiving control information transmitted over one or more tiles of a reserved control segment, the reserved control segment being dedicated to transmitting the control information. The method also includes determining respective interference levels for the one or more tiles and weighting the tiles for subsequent coding based at least in part on the respective interference levels.

Another aspect relates to a wireless communications apparatus. The wireless communications apparatus can include at least one processor configured to determine an interference level on one or more control information tiles received over a reserved control segment and weight the control information tiles for subsequent decoding based at least in part on the interference level. The wireless communications apparatus can also include a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

Yet another aspect relates to a wireless communications apparatus that facilitates communicating control information in a wireless network. The wireless communications apparatus can include means for determining respective interference levels for one or more tiles received over a reserved control segment dedicated to transmitting control information. The wireless communications apparatus can also include means for weighting the tiles for subsequent coding based at least in part on the respective interference levels.

Yet another aspect relates to a computer program product, which can have a computer-readable medium, including receiving control information transmitted over one or more tiles of a reserved control segment dedicated to transmitting the control information. The computer-readable medium can further comprise code for causing the at least one computer to determine respective interference levels for the one or more tiles, and code for causing the at least one computer to weight the tiles for subsequent coding based at least in part on the respective interference levels.

According to another aspect, an apparatus in a wireless communication system can include a processor configured to determine respective interference levels for one or more tiles received over a reserved control segment dedicated to transmitting control information. The processor may also be configured to weight the tiles for subsequent coding based at least in part on the respective interference levels. Additionally, the apparatus may include a memory coupled to the processor.

According to yet another aspect, a method that facilitates transmitting control information in a wireless network is provided. The method may include determining a subset of tiles of a communication bandwidth, the subset of tiles forming a reserved control segment dedicated to transmitting control information, and transmitting control information over a portion of the tiles of the reserved control segment.

Another aspect relates to a wireless communications apparatus. The wireless communications apparatus can include at least one processor configured to transmit control information over one or more tiles that are part of a reserved control segment dedicated to tiles transmitting control information. The wireless communications apparatus can also include a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

Yet another aspect relates to a wireless communications apparatus for transmitting control information in a wireless network. The wireless communications apparatus can include means for reserving a subset of tiles of a communication bandwidth related to a reserved control segment dedicated for transmitting control information. The wireless communications apparatus can further include means for selecting a portion of the subset of tiles for transmitting control information thereon, and means for transmitting control information on a portion of the subset of tiles.

Yet another aspect relates to a computer program product, which can have a computer-readable medium including code for causing at least one computer to determine a subset of tiles of a communication bandwidth that form a reserved control segment dedicated to transmitting control information. The computer-readable medium can also include code for causing the at least one computer to transmit control information over a portion of tiles of the reserved control segment.

According to another aspect, an apparatus in a wireless communication system is provided that includes a processor configured to reserve a subset of tiles of a communication bandwidth, the subset of tiles related to a reserved control segment dedicated to transmitting control information, and to transmit control information over a portion of the tiles of the reserved control segment. Additionally, the apparatus may include a memory coupled to the processor.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the one or more embodiments comprise the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects of the one or more embodiments. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of various embodiments may be employed and the described embodiments are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an illustration of a wireless communication system in accordance with various aspects set forth herein.

Fig. 2 is an illustration of an example communications apparatus that facilitates employment within a wireless communications environment.

Fig. 3 is an illustration of an exemplary wireless communication system that enables communicating control information in a wireless network.

Fig. 4 is an illustration of an exemplary reserved control segment conveying control information.

Fig. 5 is an illustration of an example methodology that facilitates communicating control information.

Fig. 6 is an illustration of an example methodology that facilitates receiving control information.

Fig. 7 is an illustration of an example mobile device that facilitates reusing reserved control segments to communicate control information.

Fig. 8 is an illustration of an example system that facilitates receiving control information over a reserved control segment.

Fig. 9 is an illustration of an exemplary wireless network environment that can be employed in conjunction with the various systems and methods described herein.

Fig. 10 is an illustration of an example system that receives control information in a wireless network.

Fig. 11 is an illustration of an example system that transmits control information in a wireless network.

Detailed Description

Various embodiments are now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like parts throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more embodiments. It may be evident, however, that such embodiment(s) may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing one or more embodiments.

As used in this application, the terms "component," "module," "system," and the like are intended to refer to a computer-related entity, either hardware, firmware, a combination of hardware and software, or software in execution. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to: a process running on a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a computing device and the computing device can be a component. One or more components may reside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component may be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers. In addition, these components can execute from various computer readable media having various data structures stored thereon. The components may communicate by way of local and/or remote processes such as in accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g., data from one component interacting with another component in a local system, distributed system, and/or across a network such as the internet with other systems by way of the signal).

Moreover, various embodiments are described herein in connection with a mobile device. A mobile device can also be called a system, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile, remote station, remote terminal, access terminal, user terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, user device, or User Equipment (UE). The mobile device may be a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a handheld device having wireless connection capability, a computing device, or other processing device connected to a wireless modem. In addition, various embodiments are described herein in connection with a base station. A base station may be utilized for communicating with mobile device(s) and may also be referred to as an access point, a nodeb, an evolved nodeb (nodeb or eNB), a Base Transceiver Station (BTS), and some other terminology.

Moreover, various aspects or features described herein may be implemented as a method, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and/or engineering techniques. The term "article of manufacture" as used herein is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device, carrier, or media. For example, computer-readable media may include, but are not limited to: magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strips, etc.), optical disks (e.g., Compact Disk (CD), Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), etc.), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., EPROM, card, stick, key drive, etc.). In addition, various storage media described herein can represent one or more devices and/or other machine-readable media for storing information. The term "machine-readable medium" can include, but is not limited to: wireless channels and various other media capable of storing, containing, and/or carrying instruction(s) and/or data.

The techniques described herein may be used for various wireless communication systems such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), single carrier frequency domain multiplexing (SC-FDMA), and others. The terms "system" and "network" are often used interchangeably. A CDMA system may implement a radio technology such as Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), CDMA2000, and so on. UTRA includes wideband CDMA (W-CDMA) and other variants of CDMA. CDMA2000 covers IS-2000, IS-95 and IS-856 standards. TDMA systems may implement radio technologies such as global system for mobile communications (GSM). OFDMA systems may implement radio technologies such as evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11(Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16(WiMAX), IEEE802.20, Flash-OFDM, and so forth. UTRA and E-UTRA are part of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). The 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a to-be-released UMTS that utilizes E-UTRA, which uses OFDMA on the downlink and SC-FDMA on the uplink. UTRA, E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE and GSM are described in documents of the organization entitled "third Generation partnership project" (3 GPP). CDMA2000 and UMB are described in documents of the organization entitled "third generation partnership project 2" (3GPP 2).

Referring now to fig. 1, a wireless communication system 100 is shown in accordance with various embodiments presented herein. System 100 comprises a base station 102 that can include multiple antenna groups. For example, one antenna group can include antennas 104 and 106, another group can include antennas 108 and 110, and an additional group can include antennas 112 and 114. Two antennas are shown for each antenna group; however, more or fewer antennas may be utilized for each group. Base station 102 can additionally include a transmitter chain and a receiver chain, each of which can in turn comprise a plurality of components associated with signal transmission and reception (e.g., processors, modulators, multiplexers, demodulators, demultiplexers, antennas, etc.), as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art.

Base station 102 can communicate with one or more mobile devices, such as mobile device 116 and mobile device 122; however, it should be appreciated that base station 102 can communicate with substantially any number of mobile devices similar to mobile devices 116 and 122. By way of example, mobile devices 116 and 122 can be cell phones, smart phones, laptops, handheld communication devices, handheld computing devices, satellite radios, global positioning systems, PDAs, and/or any other suitable device for communicating over wireless communication system 100. As shown, mobile device 116 is in communication with antennas 112 and 114, where antennas 112 and 114 transmit information to mobile device 116 over a forward link 118 and receive information from mobile device 116 over a reverse link 120. In addition, mobile device 122 is in communication with antennas 104 and 106, where antennas 104 and 106 transmit information to mobile device 122 over a forward link 124 and receive information from mobile device 122 over a reverse link 126. In a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system, forward link 118 can utilize a different frequency band than that used by reverse link 120, and forward link 124 can employ a different frequency band than that employed by reverse link 126, for example. Further, in a Time Division Duplex (TDD) system, forward link 118 and reverse link 120 can utilize a common frequency band and forward link 124 and reverse link 126 can utilize a common frequency band.

Each group of antennas and/or the area in which they are designated to communicate can be referred to as a sector of base station 102. For example, antenna groups can be designed to communicate to mobile devices in a sector of the areas covered by base station 102. In communication over forward links 118 and 124, the transmitting antennas of base station 102 can utilize beamforming to improve signal-to-noise ratio of forward links 118 and 124 for mobile devices 116 and 122. In addition, while base station 102 utilizes beamforming to transmit to mobile devices 116 and 122 scattered randomly through an associated region, mobile devices in neighboring cells can be subject to less interference as compared to a base station transmitting through a single antenna to all its mobile devices. Further, as depicted, mobile devices 116 and 122 can communicate directly with each other using peer-to-peer or ad hoc technologies.

According to an example, system 100 can be a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system. Further, system 100 can employ substantially any type of duplexing technique to divide communication channels (e.g., forward link, reverse link … …), such as FDD, TDD, and the like. The communication channel may include one or more logical channels. The logical channel can be provided for transmission of control information between mobile devices 116 and 122 and base station 102 (or from mobile device 116 to mobile device 122 in, for example, a peer-to-peer configuration). In one example, mobile devices 116 and 122 can transmit Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) information to base station 102 to indicate a parameter related to an assigned communication channel. For example, based on the CQI control information, base station 102 can allocate additional channel resources to mobile devices 116 and/or 122. In addition, base station 102 can transmit control information to mobile devices 116 and/or 122 over a control channel, such as acknowledgement information related to receiving data from the devices.

In one example, the base station 102 can be one of a plurality of base stations or access points in a wireless communication network. The network may allow a connection between the device and a base station or other access point that may not be most desirable in view of signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), etc. This allows a device to connect to a base station or other access point for other reasons, such as services provided by the base station or access point, a level of service or availability, access to one or more different devices, and/or others. Thus, while mobile devices 116 and 122 are in communication with base station 102, there can also be a dominant interfering access point (not shown) and/or interfering mobile device in communication. Additionally, interference can be of an impulsive nature such that base station 102 and/or mobile devices 116 and/or 122 are unable to predict or account for interference in all scenarios.

In one example, multiple transmitting devices (e.g., mobile devices 116 and/or 122) can reduce transmission power of non-control information over a portion of bandwidth (e.g., multiple tones in the case of OFDM), effectively reserving a portion of the bandwidth for transmitting control information. All additional transmitting devices (not shown) of the substantially wireless communication system 100 may also reduce the non-control information transmission power over the reserved control bandwidth to implement the reserved control segment for transmitting control information. In addition, the device may choose not to send any non-control information on the segment. In this regard, the transmitter may transmit control information over the reserved control segment without causing data transmission interference over the reserved control segment. The reserved control portion may repeat and/or may vary, for example, in time period or number of frames. In addition, the reserved control segment may be contiguous or non-contiguous in time and/or frequency, for example. Mobile devices 116 and/or 122 can transmit control information by reusing reserved control segments to reduce interference from disparate devices.

Reuse of the reserved control segment is related to transmitting the control channel using a portion of the reserved control segment. In this regard, similar devices (e.g., base stations or mobile devices) may utilize different portions of the reserved control segment to avoid interfering with one another. For example, the reserved control segments may be reused in a variety of ways, such as randomly, pseudo-randomly, using a time-varying function, and/or the like. Further, in one example, the entire reserved control segment can be divided into multiple smaller portions for reuse in transmitting control data. In addition, for example, the portions may be reused according to a random (or pseudo-random) selection of portions such that any two devices may interfere on some but not necessarily all of the portions on which they transmit. Thus, while there may be unpredictable interference in the wireless network for mobile devices 116 and 122, the devices may transmit control information, which the base station 102 will have a high likelihood of receiving, or transmit enough multiplexed symbols to estimate the channel and decode the data correctly. It should be appreciated that multiple devices may transmit different types of control information on various portions of the reserved control segment, e.g., mobile device 116 may transmit CQI information and mobile device 122 may transmit acknowledgement information on the same portion. In addition, the reserved control segments may be divided into one or more subsets and utilized such that a device using a given subset may interfere with other devices in the same subset, but not with devices outside the subset.

Turning to fig. 2, illustrated is a communications apparatus 200 that facilitates employment within a wireless communications environment. Communications apparatus 200 can be a base station or a portion thereof, a mobile device or a portion thereof, or substantially any communications apparatus that receives data transmitted in a wireless communication environment. Communication apparatus 200 can include a control bandwidth reuser 202, a multiplexer 204, and a transmitter 206, wherein, as described, control bandwidth reuser 202 can schedule transmission of control information over a reserved control segment in a reuse manner (e.g., randomly, pseudo-randomly, according to a time-varying function, etc.), multiplexer 204 can spread the control information over one or more time/frequency blocks of the reserved control segment, and transmitter 206 can transmit the control information over the reserved control segment.

According to one example, a reserved control segment may be defined for transmitting control information from the communication device and associated devices (not shown); as described, an apparatus can eliminate or reduce power of non-control information transmissions on a reserved control segment to reduce interference between devices attempting to transmit control information. In one example, the communications apparatus 200 can be one of a plurality of mobile devices in a wireless communication network that communicate with one or more base stations and/or access points (or vice versa in another example). The wireless communication network may support the mobile device to connect with a selected access point or base station such that an optimal base station may not be selected for communication (e.g., determined by optimal signal strength, SNR, and/or others). This may be based on various factors including, for example, the services provided, the accessibility or activity level of the access point (e.g., home-based access point), and/or others.

Additionally, communication apparatus 200 can be part of a heterogeneously deployed network, where communication apparatus 200 or a user thereof can choose to connect to a low power base station 102 or the like that has a lower path loss but a poorer SNR. For example, in some situations, it may be desirable for a terminal to be served by a low transmit power base station with low path loss, even if the base station has low received power and low SNR. This may be because the low power base station may cause less interference to the network as a whole when serving the mobile device. Further, multiple low power base stations can serve different users or mobile devices simultaneously, which can effectively utilize bandwidth more than a high power base station serving a single user/device.

In this regard, there may be more physically more desirable access points with higher SNR than the access points selected by the communications apparatus 200 to connect and generate interference therebetween. Accordingly, interference cannot be handled using conventional interference avoidance methods and techniques. Accordingly, the apparatus for transmitting control information may eliminate data transmission (e.g., substantially reduce or remove transmission power over a portion of the bandwidth) over a reserved control segment of the bandwidth for transmitting control information, rather than control channel transmission, in order to transmit control information without generating a large amount of interference between transmitters.

Control bandwidth reuser 202 can schedule control information to be transmitted on the reserved control segments. In this regard, in one example, the reserved control segment can be divided into one or more blocks, where each block includes one or more contiguous or non-contiguous frequency tones on an OFDM symbol, and the control bandwidth re-user 202 can select a subset of the one or more blocks for transmitting control information; each block may be referred to as a tile or a sub-tile of bandwidth. Therefore, by utilizing this portion of tiles, the probability of interference from different communication devices can be substantially reduced. For example, tiles may be selected by multiplexer 204 randomly (e.g., pseudo-randomly or otherwise) or according to a multiplexing scheme (e.g., a time-varying function). In addition, a random or time-varying function may be applied based on, for example, a Media Access Control (MAC) identifier of the communication device 200 (which may uniquely identify the communication device 200) or another identifier. In addition, control bandwidth reuser 202 can use various coding techniques to encode control information including, but not limited to, convolutional codes, turbo codes, random codes, modulation codes, and/or repetition codes. This may also be specific for a given MAC identifier, for example. The transmitter 206 may then transmit control information over the selected subset of tiles. While one or more tiles in a subset may be sufficiently interfered, by utilizing multiple tiles, some tiles may be left undisturbed. In one example, using these tiles, the control information can be successfully decoded.

In addition, control bandwidth reuser 202 can specify the number of tiles to use for transmitting control information. For example, the selection of the number may be made randomly, pseudo-randomly, etc., which may be based at least in part on a MAC identifier of the communication apparatus 200, a fixed number, etc. In another example, tiles can be arranged according to a scheme that can be shared among multiple communication devices of a sector or network to ensure that communication over control information tiles is not interfered with. For example, the scheme may be a time-varying function, where the function may be specific according to the MAC identifier of the communication apparatus 200. Further, in one example, the number of tiles can be selected based on one or more inferences, such as the number of devices, distances between potential interfering devices, signal strengths of one or more devices, device locations with respect to a corresponding base station or access point, and/or others. In addition, the reserved control segment may include a plurality of OFDM symbols, and the one or more tiles may represent contiguous or non-contiguous subcarriers of one or more contiguous or non-contiguous OFDM symbols over a portion of time. In addition, the subcarriers utilized may vary over time for different portions.

Referring now to fig. 3, illustrated is a wireless communication system 300 that can facilitate transmitting control information with a low probability of interference in a wireless communication network. System 300 includes a wireless receiver 302 that communicates with a wireless transmitter 304 (and/or any number of disparate devices (not shown)). The wireless receiver 302 may send information to the wireless transmitter 304 over a forward link channel; further, wireless receiver 302 may receive information from wireless transmitter 304 over a reverse link channel, or vice versa. Further, system 300 can be a MIMO system. Additionally, system 300 can operate in an OFDMA wireless network (e.g., 3GPP LTE, etc.). In addition, the components and functions shown and described below in the wireless receiver 302 may also be present in the wireless transmitter 304, and vice versa, in one example. In this regard, the wireless receiver 302 and the wireless transmitter 304 can be, for example, a base station, a mobile device, and/or a portion thereof.

The wireless receiver 302 includes a control bandwidth estimator 306 and a control information decoder 308, wherein, as depicted, the control bandwidth estimator 306 can determine a relevant portion of bandwidth for decoding that is used by one or more communicatively coupled transmitters to transmit control information, wherein the portion can be a reserved control segment that is used by the transmitter to transmit the control information, and the control information decoder 308 is used to decode the estimated bandwidth to determine the transmitted control information. The wireless transmitter 304 includes a control information definer 310 that can create control information to be sent to one or more receivers; the control information may relate to CQI information that may be used by the receiver to give additional resources to the wireless transmitter 304 based on, for example, an indicated channel quality. The wireless transmitter 304 can also include a control bandwidth reuser 312, which can utilize the reserved control segment to transmit defined control information, and a data/pilot multiplexer 314, which can employ the control information to modulate pilot information in order to detect interference on the reserved control segment.

In one example, wireless receiver 302 and wireless transmitter 304 may communicate in a heterogeneous deployed wireless network that allows connections other than those most desirable according to signal and/or other/SNR. Additionally, the network may be a network that communicates using OFDMA such that one or more frequency tones may be defined and used for communication at one or more given time periods. The wireless transmitter 304 can reduce the transmission power of non-control information over a reserved control segment, which in this example can include a plurality of tones.

The control information definer 310 can generate data related to the quality of the channel resources received from the wireless receiver 302. For example, the control information may relate to communication quality, SNR, and/or the like on the resources. Control bandwidth reuser 312 can determine one or more frequency tones or tiles of tones of a reserved control segment over which control information is transmitted. As previously described, this determination may be made in a random, pseudo-random, or other multiplexing scheme (e.g., a time-varying function) that may be specific to, for example, the MAC identifier of a given transmitter. In addition, the control information can be coherently modulated or non-coherently modulated in tiles according to a random or pseudo-random sequence, a reuse scheme that reduces the probability of collisions occurring among multiple wireless transmitters (e.g., wireless transmitter 304) on a channel, inferences made for the communication or wireless network, and/or others.

A data/pilot multiplexer 314 may be used to combine pilot data with control information over tiles to facilitate determining decoding possibilities. For example, the wireless receiver 302 may acquire previous pilot information related to the wireless transmitter 304. After scheduling the control information on the reusable portion of the control bandwidth and multiplexing it with pilot data, wireless transmitter 304 can transmit the data on a channel to wireless receiver 302. The control bandwidth estimator 306 may utilize pilot data to determine the likelihood of interference. The tiles or channels with lower likelihood of interference based on the multiplexed pilot data may be estimated and the control information may then be decoded by a control information decoder 308. It should be appreciated that the channel need not be estimated in the case of non-coherent modulation of the control information. Additionally, the interfered tiles or tiles having a higher likelihood of interference may also be estimated and/or otherwise decoded. For example, a lower weight may be used for tiles on which high interference is detected. Thus, as described, reducing power on a reserved control segment for data communications and transmitting control information thereon by reusing multiple tiles of a control channel may reduce the chance of interference between transmitters and allow for subsequent estimation and decoding of the channel by utilizing the most desirable tiles in accordance with pilot data.

Referring now to fig. 4, an exemplary reserved control segment 400 is shown for transmitting control information over time. The reserved control segment 400 may be represented as a plurality of OFDM symbols 402 (e.g., 8 shown here), each OFDM symbol having a plurality of frequency tones (e.g., 16 shown here) on which to communicate control information. It should be appreciated that more or fewer OFDM symbols and/or subcarriers within an OFDM symbol may be utilized to transmit control information; this figure represents one of a substantially non-limiting architecture for the described subject matter. In addition, an OFDM symbol may represent one or more frames, portions of frames, and/or preambles thereof, which are reserved for control information. In addition, the OFDM symbols used to transmit the control information may vary over different time frames, for example. As previously described, a device may communicate control information with another device in the wireless mobile network using a portion of the reserved control segment.

Consecutive frequency tones or subcarriers (e.g., consecutive in time or frequency) on an OFDM symbol may be referred to as tiles (tiles); thus, 2 x 2 combined tiles are shown at 404, 406, 408, and 410. It should be understood that tiles may be n m, where n and m are positive integers. For example, a tile may be a single tone or a plurality of contiguous or non-contiguous tones. Tiles may represent control information communication from different devices. Thus, for example, transmitters that differ for the portion of the bandwidth shown at 402 may reduce the power of non-control information communications to allow transmission of control information without generating sufficient interference. The tiles shown at 404 and 406 relate to a first device that communicates control information and the tiles represented at 408 and 410 may be from a second device that communicates control information. The control information may be encoded by an error control code and may be modulated coherently or non-coherently into higher order modulation symbols (e.g., Phase Shift Keying (PSK), Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM), and/or others). Further, as shown, data may be multiplexed over tiles, where tiles may be selected randomly, pseudo-randomly, or according to one or more multiplexing schemes specific to the MAC identifier. In addition, the coding and modulation schemes may be specific to a given transmitter. Thus, the tiles can be used to transmit control information over the reserved control segment with a high probability that no or little collisions will occur between the tiles.

However, as shown, control information may be multiplexed over tiles such that if some tiles (e.g., at 404) are subject to interference, the channel may still be estimated and data may be decoded using the remaining tiles. In addition, the tile interfered with most may also be used for estimation, e.g., relying on an estimate of interference. Further, it should be understood that channel estimation may not be necessary in the case of non-coherently modulated control information. Reusing those portions of the reserved control segment can substantially reduce the probability that all tiles of control information will be interfered with and result in unsuccessful estimation and decoding. In addition, pilot data may be multiplexed with control information to facilitate detecting interference on one or more tiles. Thus, when interference is detected from the pilot, a given tile may be ignored or given less weight in estimating the channel for data decoding, if channel estimation is required. It should be appreciated that a pilot is not required for interference estimation, and in some cases, data symbols may also be utilized in the absence of a pilot, or in conjunction with a pilot. Additionally, in one example, the tiles 406 may be replicated data (as in 404) to further reduce the probability of collisions. Thus, as long as one of 404 and 406 can be estimated or otherwise determined, the data can be decoded even if 404 and/or 406 are partially interfered. Thus, having the transmitter reduce the power of non-control information transmissions for the control channel and allow for random or reusable multiplexing of data on the control channel, the data can be decoded with a high probability of success in the face of interference.

Referring to fig. 5-6, methodologies relating to transmitting control information with a high probability of successful decoding in a wireless network deployment are illustrated. While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the methodologies are described as a series of acts, it is to be understood and appreciated that the methodologies are not limited by the order of acts, as some acts may, in accordance with one or more embodiments, occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other acts from that shown and described herein. For example, those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that a methodology could alternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states or events, such as in a state diagram. Moreover, not all illustrated acts may be required to implement a methodology in accordance with one or more embodiments.

Turning to fig. 5, illustrated is a methodology 500 that facilitates transmitting control information utilizing a reserved control segment dedicated to tiles of control information. At 502, control information is generated. The control information may relate to, for example, the quality of communication over the data communication channel or other information about the allocated resources. At 504, control information may be encoded and modulated. For example, the control information may be encoded using one or more error control codes (including Reed-Solomon, convolutional, block, turbo, and/or other). Modulation may involve converting data into one or more symbols using one or more PSK, QAM, and/or the like.

At 506, the control information may be multiplexed over multiple tiles to provide a degree of redundancy for the control information. Thus, if a portion of the tiles are subject to interference, the remaining tiles may be used to estimate the channel and/or decode data over the portion of the bandwidth. Data is multiplexed over successive tiles and/or spread over the entire available bandwidth. Tiles for multiplexing may be selected based on using a random deployment, a scheduled deployment, and/or based on one or more inferred deployments related to the wireless network. At 508, control information may be transmitted over multiple tiles.

Referring now to fig. 6, illustrated is a methodology 600 that facilitates eliminating or reducing power of a reserved control segment for transmitting control information and receiving control information over the reserved control segment. At 602, control information can be received over a portion of bandwidth reserved for transmitting control information (e.g., a reserved control segment). The control information may be related to the channel quality, e.g., including the SNR and others of the channel. The control information may be multiplexed in the reserved control segment. As previously described, for example, OFDM may be used for communication and control information may be multiplexed over one or more communication tiles that include a reserved control segment.

At 604, interference may be estimated based on at least a portion of the control information. This may facilitate interpretation of the control information; for example, portions with threshold interference may be ignored or weighted differently than portions below the threshold. It should be appreciated that in one example, there may be no interference for any portion of the control information that exceeds the threshold. At 606, the control information may be decoded using the interference estimate, as described.

It will be appreciated that, in accordance with one or more aspects described herein, inferences can be made regarding selecting a portion of bandwidth over which to transmit control information, as described. As used herein, the term to "infer" or "inference" refer generally to the process of reasoning about or inferring states of the system, environment, and/or user from a set of observations as captured via events and/or data. Inference can be employed to identify a specific context or action, or can generate a probability distribution over states, for example. Such inference can be probabilistic-that is, the computation of a probability distribution over states of interest based on a consideration of data and events. Inference can also refer to techniques employed for composing higher-level events from a set of events and/or data. Such inference results in the construction of new events or actions from a set of observed events and/or stored event data, whether the events are correlated in close temporal proximity, and whether the events and data come from one or several event and data sources.

According to one example, one or more of the methods set forth above can include making inferences pertaining to: a portion of bandwidth available for transmitting control information, a portion utilized by a different device, a presence of a scheme for transmitting control information, an interference or activity level of one or more devices or base stations, and/or others.

Fig. 7 is an illustration of a mobile device 700 that facilitates transmitting control information via a reserved control segment of reuse bandwidth. Mobile device 700 comprises a receiver 702 that receives a signal from, for instance, a receive antenna (not shown), performs typical operations on (e.g., filters, amplifies, downconverts, etc.) the received signal, and digitizes the conditioned signal to obtain samples. Receiver 702 can comprise a demodulator 704 that can demodulate received symbols and provide them to a processor 706 for channel estimation. Processor 706 can be a processor dedicated to analyzing information received by receiver 702 and/or generating information for transmission by a transmitter 718, a processor that controls one or more components of mobile device 700; and/or a processor that both analyzes information received by receiver 702, generates information for transmission by a transmitter 718, and controls one or more components of mobile device 700.

Mobile device 700 can additionally comprise memory 708 that is operatively coupled to processor 706 and that can store data to be transmitted, received data, information related to available channels, data associated with analyzed signal and/or interference strength, information related to an assigned channel/power/rate, or the like, and any other suitable information for estimating a channel and communicating via the channel. Memory 708 can also store protocols and/or algorithms associated with estimating and/or utilizing a channel (e.g., performance-based, capacity-based, etc.).

It will be appreciated that the data store (e.g., memory 708) described herein can be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. By way of example, and not limitation, nonvolatile memory can include Read Only Memory (ROM), Programmable ROM (PROM), Electrically Programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can include Random Access Memory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory. By way of example and not limitation, RAM is available in a variety of forms such as Synchronous RAM (SRAM), Dynamic RAM (DRAM), Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), Enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct memory bus RAM (DRRAM). The memory 708 of the subject systems and methods is intended to comprise, without being limited to, these and other suitable types of memory.

Processor 706 can also be operatively coupled to a control information definer 710 and a control bandwidth reuser 712, wherein control information definer 710 can generate control information related to communicating with one or more base stations or other access points, and control bandwidth reuser 712 can select a portion of a reserved control segment of a bandwidth over which to transmit the control information. For example, control bandwidth reuser 712 may select a reserved control segment (e.g., one or more tiles, where a reserved control segment is a group of OFDM symbols for a given time frame) of the bandwidth of one or more portions for transmitting the control information specified by control information definer 710. The control information may be multiplexed over these portions of the reserved control segment so that other devices can transmit control information over the same reserved control segment with a low probability of full interference. Thus, when the reserved control segment of the plurality of portions includes control information, a receiver of the control information may be more likely to decode the data.

In addition, processor 706 can be operatively coupled to a data/pilot multiplexer 714 that can combine pilot and control information in a multiplexed portion over a reserved control segment. This allows the receiver of the data to determine the interfering portion of the control information based on successfully receiving/decoding the pilot. For this reason, the disturbed part of the reserved control segment can be ignored when decoding the control information. Mobile device 700 still further comprises a modulator 716 and a transmitter 718 that respectively modulate and transmit signals to, for instance, a base station, another mobile device, and/or the like. Although depicted as being separate from the processor 706, it is to be appreciated that the control information definer 710, control bandwidth reuser 712, data/pilot multiplexer 714, demodulator 704, and/or modulator 716 can be part of the processor 706 or multiple processors (not shown).

Fig. 8 is an illustration of a system 800 that facilitates cancellation over a reserved control segment of bandwidth reserved for control information and decoding of control information transmitted over the portion. System 800 includes a base station 802 (e.g., access point … …) having a receiver 810 that receives signals from one or more mobile devices 804 via a plurality of receive antennas 806 and a transmitter 824 that transmits to the one or more mobile devices 804 via a transmit antenna 808. Receiver 810 can receive information from receive antennas 806 and is operatively associated with a demodulator 812 that demodulates received information. Demodulated symbols can be analyzed by a processor 814, which can be similar to the processor described supra with respect to fig. 6, coupled to a memory 816 that stores information related to estimating signal (e.g., pilot) strength and/or interference strength, data to be transmitted to or received from mobile device 804 (or a disparate base station (not shown)), and/or any other suitable information related to performing various acts and functions presented herein. Processor 814 is further coupled to a control bandwidth estimator 818 and a control information decoder 820, where control bandwidth estimator 818 can estimate a relevant portion of bandwidth (e.g., one or more tones of an OFDM symbol in a given time period) for transmitting control information from one or more mobile devices 804 and control information decoder 820 can decode the control information.

For example, as described, from received control information tiles, control bandwidth estimator 818 can determine a portion of bandwidth for transmission of control information by mobile device 804. Further, control information decoder 820 may decode the received control information using a plurality of undisturbed portions. For example, control information may be sent on a reserved control segment along with data from other mobile devices. Although the opportunity is reduced, there is still an opportunity for at least a portion of the transmitted control information to be interfered with by one or more disparate mobile devices. In this case, the undisturbed portion can be determined (e.g., by multiplexed reference or pilot data) and used for decoding. Further, although shown as being separate from the processor 814, it is to be understood that the control bandwidth estimator 818, control information decoder 820, demodulator 812, and/or modulator 822 can be part of the processor 814 or multiple processors (not shown).

Fig. 9 illustrates an exemplary wireless communication system 900. The wireless communication system 900 illustrates one base station 910 and one mobile device 950 for sake of brevity. However, it is to be appreciated that system 900 can include more than one base station and/or more than one mobile device, wherein additional base stations and/or mobile devices can be substantially similar or different from example base station 910 and mobile device 950 described below. In addition, it is to be appreciated that base station 910 and/or mobile device 950 can employ the systems (FIGS. 1-3 and 7-8) and/or methods (FIGS. 5-6) described herein to facilitate wireless communication there between.

At base station 910, traffic data for a number of data streams is provided from a data source 912 to a Transmit (TX) data processor 914. According to an example, each data stream can be transmitted over a respective antenna. TX data processor 914 formats, codes, and interleaves the traffic data stream based on a particular coding scheme selected for that data stream to provide coded data.

The coded data for each data stream may be multiplexed with pilot data using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) techniques. Additionally or alternatively, the pilot symbols may be Frequency Division Multiplexed (FDM), Time Division Multiplexed (TDM), or Code Division Multiplexed (CDM). In general, the pilot data is a known data pattern that is processed in a known manner and can be used at mobile device 950 to estimate channel response. The multiplexed pilot and coded data for each data stream can be modulated (e.g., symbol mapped) based on a particular modulation scheme (e.g., binary phase-shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK), M-phase-shift keying (M-PSK), M-quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM), etc.) selected for that data stream to provide modulation symbols. The data rate, coding, and modulation for each data stream can be determined by instructions performed or provided by processor 930.

The modulation symbols for the data streams can be provided to a TX MIMO processor 920, which can further process the modulation symbols (e.g., for OFDM). TX MIMO processor 920 then passes N_TOne modulation symbol stream is provided to N_TAnd Transmitters (TMTR)922a through 922 t. In various embodiments, TX MIMO processor 920 applies beamforming weights to the symbols of the data streams and to the antenna from which the symbol is being transmitted.

Each transmitter 922 receives and processes a respective symbol stream to provide one or more analog signals, and further conditions (e.g., amplifies, filters, and upconverts) the analog signals to provide a modulated signal suitable for transmission over the MIMO channelNumber (n). Further, N from transmitters 922 a-922 t_TEach modulated signal being from N_TAnd antennas 924a through 924 t.

At mobile device 950, the transmitted modulated signal is represented by N_REach antenna 952a through 952r receives a signal and provides a received signal from each antenna 952 to a respective receiver (RCVR)954a through 954 r. Each receiver 954 conditions (e.g., filters, amplifies, and downconverts) a respective signal, digitizes the conditioned signal to provide samples, and further processes the samples to provide a corresponding "received" symbol stream.

RX data processor 960 can receive and process signals from N based on a particular receiver processing technique_RN received by receiver 954_RA stream of symbols to provide N_TA stream of "detected" symbols. RX data processor 960 can demodulate, deinterleave, and decode each detected symbol stream to recover the traffic data for the data stream. The processing by RX data processor 960 is complementary to that performed by TX mimo processor 920 and TX data processor 914 at base station 910.

A processor 970 can periodically determine which precoding matrix to utilize as discussed above. Further, processor 970 can formulate a reverse link message comprising a matrix index portion and a rank value portion.

The reverse link message may comprise various types of information regarding the communication link and/or the received data stream. The reverse link message can be processed by a TX data processor 938 (which TX data processor 938 also receives traffic data for a number of data streams from a data source 936), modulated by a modulator 980, conditioned by transmitters 954a through 954r, and transmitted back to base station 910.

At base station 910, the modulated signals from mobile device 950 are received by antennas 924, conditioned by receivers 922, demodulated by a demodulator 940, and processed by a RX data processor 942 to extract the reverse link message transmitted by mobile device 950. Further, processor 930 can process the extracted message to determine which precoding matrix to use for determining the beamforming weights.

Processors 930 and 970 can direct (e.g., control, coordinate, manage, etc.) operation at base station 910 and mobile device 950, respectively. Respective processors 930 and 970 can be associated with memory 932 and 972 that store program codes and data. Processors 930 and 970 can also perform computations to derive frequency and impulse response estimates for the uplink and downlink, respectively.

It is to be understood that the embodiments described herein may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, or any combination thereof. For a hardware implementation, the processing units may be implemented within one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), Digital Signal Processing Devices (DSPDs), Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, other electronic units designed to perform the functions described herein, or a combination thereof.

When the embodiments are implemented in software, firmware, middleware or microcode, program code or code segments, they can be stored in a machine-readable medium, such as a storage component. A code segment may represent a procedure, a function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures, or program statements. A code segment may be coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted using any suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc.

For a software implementation, the techniques described herein may be implemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described herein. The software codes may be stored in memory units and executed by processors. The memory unit may be implemented within the processor or external to the processor, in which case it can be communicatively coupled to the processor via various means as is known in the art.

Referring to fig. 10, illustrated is a system 1000 that facilitates receiving control information in a wireless network. For example, system 1000 can reside at least partially within a base station, mobile device, etc. It is to be appreciated that system 1000 is represented as functional blocks, which can be functional blocks that represent functions implemented by a processor, software, or combination thereof (e.g., firmware). System 1000 includes a logical grouping 1002 of electrical components that can act in conjunction. For instance, logical grouping 1002 can include an electrical component for determining respective interference levels for one or more tiles 1004 received over a reserved control segment dedicated to transmitting control information. For example, substantially all similar transmission systems may eliminate or reduce the power of non-control information communication over the reserved control segment to reduce interference in transmitting control information. Further, although the mobile device may transmit control information within the reserved control information portion of the bandwidth, interference may still occur within the control information transmission. However, the more bandwidth the portion is used for multiplexing, the less chance of interference. Even so, the interference may be partial, which may result in the estimation of the control channel and decoding of the data from a portion of the bandwidth. Further, logical grouping 1002 can comprise an electrical component for weighting the tiles for subsequent decoding based at least in part upon the respective interference levels 1006. Thus, as previously described, in one example, the control information may be partially interfered; in this case, the weighting may facilitate determining which portions to utilize for decoding the control information. Additionally, system 1000 can include a memory 1008 that retains instructions for executing functions associated with electrical components 1004 and 1006. While shown as being external to memory 1008, it is to be understood that one or more of electrical components 1004 and 1006 can exist within memory 1008.

Turning to fig. 11, illustrated is a system 1100 that communicates control information over a reserved portion of bandwidth in a wireless network. System 1100 can reside at least partially within a base station, mobile device, etc., for instance. As shown, system 1100 is represented as functional modules, which can be functional modules that represent functions implemented by a processor, software, or combination thereof (e.g., firmware). System 1100 includes a logical grouping 1102 of electrical components that facilitate communicating control information. Moving to logical grouping 1102 can include an electrical component for reserving a subset of tiles of communication bandwidth in relation to a reserved control segment dedicated to transmitting control information 1104. The control information can relate to signals and/or other and/or SNR on resources (e.g., data channels and/or other) provided by the access point, and the disparate wireless communication apparatus can cancel conventional non-control information transmissions over the reserved control segment in order to reduce possible interference over the reserved control segment. Further, logical grouping 1102 can comprise an electrical component for selecting a portion of a subset of tiles for transmitting control information thereon 1106. As described herein, the portions may be selected, for example, randomly, pseudo-randomly, based on a transmitter identifier, and/or the like. Further, logical grouping 1102 can include an electrical component for transmitting control information over a portion of the subset of tiles 1108. Additionally, system 1100 can include a memory 1110 that retains instructions for executing functions associated with electrical components 1104, 1106, and 1108. While shown as being external to memory 1110, it is to be understood that one or more of electrical components 1104, 1106, and 1108 can exist within memory 1110.

What has been described above includes examples of one or more embodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the aforementioned embodiments, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of various embodiments are possible. Accordingly, the embodiments described in this application are intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term "includes" is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term "comprising" as "comprising" is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

Claims (44)

1. A method that facilitates communicating control information in a wireless network, comprising:

receiving control information transmitted over one or more tiles of a reserved control segment, the reserved control segment dedicated to transmitting the control information;

determining respective interference levels for the one or more tiles; and

weighting the tiles for subsequent coding based at least in part on the respective interference levels.

2. The method of claim 1, at least one of the respective interference levels is determined based at least in part on pilot signals within an associated tile of the one or more tiles.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the one or more tiles based at least in part on a random or pseudo-random function used by a transmitter.

4. The method of claim 3, the random or pseudo-random function being specific to the transmitter.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising estimating a frequency response from the one or more tiles.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising coding control information from the one or more tiles based at least in part on the frequency response.

7. The method of claim 5, the frequency response is estimated based at least in part on a subset of the one or more tiles having an interference level less than a threshold interference.

8. The method of claim 1, the one or more tiles comprising one or more contiguous subcarriers of one or more contiguous OFDM symbols.

9. The method of claim 7, the control information is randomly multiplexed into one or more coded modulation symbols over the one or more tiles.

10. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to:

determining one or more control information tiles received on a reserved control segment

The interference level of (c); and is

Pairing the control information tiles for subsequent coding based at least in part on the interference level

Weighting the blocks; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

11. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 10, the at least one processor further configured to:

estimating a control channel from the one or more control information tiles based at least in part on pilots within the one or more control information tiles; and

decoding control information from the control channel.

12. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 11, the one or more control information tiles comprise one or more tones over one or more OFDM symbols.

13. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 12, the control information tile is partially interfered by one or more disparate control information tiles received from disparate devices over at least a portion of the control information tile.

14. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 9, the one or more control information tiles are randomly placed in the reserved control segment.

15. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 14, the randomly placing is specific to a transmitter of the one or more control information tiles.

16. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 14, the one or more control information tiles are contiguous in time or frequency over the reserved control segment.

17. A wireless communications apparatus that facilitates communicating control information in a wireless network, comprising:

means for determining respective interference levels for one or more tiles received over a reserved control segment dedicated to transmitting control information; and

means for weighting the tiles for subsequent coding based at least in part on the respective interference levels.

18. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 17, at least one of the respective interference levels is determined based at least in part on pilot signals within an associated tile of the one or more tiles.

19. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 17, further comprising means for determining the one or more tiles based at least in part on a random or pseudorandom function utilized by a transmitter.

20. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 19, the random or pseudorandom function is specific to the transmitter.

21. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 19, further comprising means for transmitting a control information transmission scheme to the transmitter, control information being multiplexed over the one or more tiles in accordance with the scheme.

22. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 17, further comprising means for estimating one or more control channels from the one or more tiles, control information is coded based at least in part on the estimated control channels.

23. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising:

for at least one computer to receive on one or more tiles of a reserved control segment

Code for transmitting control information, the reserved control segment being dedicated to transmitting the control information;

code for causing the at least one computer to determine respective interference levels for the one or more tiles; and

code for causing the at least one computer to weight the tiles for subsequent coding based at least in part on the respective interference levels.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, at least one of the respective interference levels is determined based at least in part on pilot signals within an associated tile of the one or more tiles.

25. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a processor configured to:

determining respective interference levels for one or more tiles received over a reserved control segment dedicated to transmitting control information; and

weighting the tiles for subsequent coding based at least in part on the respective interference levels; and

a memory coupled to the processor.

26. A method that facilitates transmitting control information in a wireless network, comprising:

determining a subset of tiles of the communication bandwidth, the subset of tiles forming a reserved control segment dedicated to transmitting control information; and

transmitting control information over a portion of tiles of the reserved control segment.

27. The method of claim 26, the control information is multiplexed over the portion of tiles of the reserved control segment based at least in part on a random or pseudorandom sequence.

28. The method of claim 27, the random or pseudo-random sequence is transmitter specific.

29. The method of claim 27, the random or pseudo-random sequence is sector specific.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising transmitting the control information over the portion of tiles of the reserved control segment.

31. The method of claim 26, the portion of tiles of the reserved control segment includes pilot information to facilitate interference determination.

32. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to:

transmitting control information on one or more tiles that are part of a reserved control segment of a tile dedicated to transmitting control information; and a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

33. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 32, the at least one processor further configured to select the one or more tiles based at least in part on a random or pseudo-random sequence.

34. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 33, the sequence is specific to the wireless communications apparatus.

35. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 33, the sequence is selected based at least in part on a predetermined configuration such that wireless communications apparatus interference over the reserved control segment is minimized.

36. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 32, the one or more tiles further comprise pilot information.

37. A wireless communications apparatus for transmitting control information in a wireless network, comprising:

means for reserving a subset of tiles of communication bandwidth, the subset of tiles related to a reserved control segment dedicated to transmitting control information;

means for selecting a portion of the subset of tiles for transmitting control information; and

means for transmitting control information over the portion of the subset of tiles.

38. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 37, further comprising means for applying an error control code to the control information.

39. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 37, further comprising means for multiplexing the control information with a pilot over the portion of a tile.

40. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 39, the control information is modulated according to a random sequence specific to the wireless communications apparatus.

41. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 37, the reserved control segment is dedicated for transmitting control information by a plurality of disparate wireless communications apparatuses.

42. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising:

code for causing at least one computer to determine a subset of tiles of a communication bandwidth, the subset of tiles constituting a reserved control segment dedicated to transmitting control information; and

code for causing the at least one computer to transmit control information over a portion of tiles of the reserved control segment.

43. The computer program product of claim 42, the control information is multiplexed over the portion of tiles of the reserved control segment based at least in part on a random or pseudorandom sequence.

44. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a processor configured to:

reserving a subset of tiles of the communication bandwidth, the subset of tiles relating to a reserved control segment reserved for transmitting control information; and

transmitting control information over a portion of tiles of the reserved control segment; and a memory coupled to the processor.