Reverse link pilot integrated with block codes

Abstract

A method and apparatus for encoding digital communication signals is described herein. A wireless communication unit may comprise a processor configured to produce first symbols derived from data bits and parity bits. The wireless communication unit may transmit a wireless signal including the first symbols and reference symbols in a time interval including a plurality of symbol time intervals. In one of the symbol time intervals a plurality of the reference symbols may be transmitted in a predetermined pattern, which may have the reference symbols not adjacent to each other. A base station may receive a wireless signal including first and reference symbols. In one of the symbol time intervals a plurality of the reference symbols may be received in a predetermined pattern. The base station may then demodulate the first symbols using the reference symbols, wherein the first symbols are derived from data bits and parity bits.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wireless communication unit comprising:
 a processor configured to produce first symbols derived from data bits and parity bits; and   a transmitter configured to transmit a wireless signal including the first symbols and reference symbols in a time interval including a plurality of symbol time intervals, wherein in one of the symbol time intervals a plurality of the reference symbols are transmitted in a predetermined pattern, wherein the predetermined pattern has the reference symbols not adjacent to each other.   
     
     
         2 . The wireless communication unit of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined pattern has the reference symbols with a single space separating the reference symbols. 
     
     
         3 . The wireless communication unit of  claim 1 , wherein the reference symbols are pilot symbols. 
     
     
         4 . The wireless communication unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first symbols are quadrature modulated. 
     
     
         5 . The wireless communication unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first symbols are produced by turbo coding the data bits. 
     
     
         6 . A method for use in a wireless communication unit, the method comprising:
 producing first symbols derived from data bits and parity bits; and   transmitting a wireless signal including the first symbols and reference symbols in a time interval including a plurality of symbol time intervals, wherein in one of the symbol time intervals a plurality of the reference symbols are transmitted in a predetermined pattern, wherein the predetermined pattern has the reference symbols not adjacent to each other.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined pattern has the reference symbols with a single space separating the reference symbols. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the reference symbols are pilot symbols. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first symbols are quadrature modulated. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first symbols are produced by turbo coding the data bits. 
     
     
         11 . A base station comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive a wireless signal, wherein the wireless signal includes first and reference symbols in a time interval including a plurality of symbol time intervals, wherein in one of the symbol time intervals a plurality of the reference symbols are received in a predetermined pattern, wherein the predetermined pattern has the reference symbols not adjacent to each other; and   a processor configured to demodulate the first symbols using the reference symbols, wherein the first symbols are derived from data bits and parity bits.   
     
     
         12 . The base station of  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined pattern has the reference symbols with a single space separating the reference symbols. 
     
     
         13 . The base station of  claim 11 , wherein the reference symbols are pilot symbols. 
     
     
         14 . The base station of  claim 11 , wherein the first symbols are quadrature modulated. 
     
     
         15 . The base station of  claim 11 , wherein the first symbols are produced by turbo coding the data bits.