Patent ID: 8619891
Filing Date: 2013-12-31
Classification: H04B,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of inserting pilot symbols in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) frames for transmission by a plurality of antennas, the OFDM frames having a time domain and a frequency domain, each OFDM frame comprising a plurality of OFDM symbols, the method comprising, for at least a first frame: inserting pilot symbols within a first set of data for transmission by a first antenna of the plurality of antennas, wherein the pilot symbols are designated for transmission using a first set of at least two OFDM symbols, wherein the at least two OFDM symbols of the first set are non-consecutive in both the time domain and the frequency domain; inserting pilot symbols within a second set of data for transmission by a first antenna of the plurality of antennas, wherein the pilot symbols are designated for transmission using a second set of at least two OFDM symbols, wherein the at least two OFDM symbols of the second set are non-consecutive in both the time domain and the frequency domain; inserting pilot symbols within a third set of data for transmission by a first antenna of the plurality of antennas, wherein the pilot symbols are designated for transmission using a third set of at least two OFDM symbols, wherein the at least two OFDM symbols of the third set are non-consecutive in both the time domain and the frequency domain; inserting pilot symbols within a fourth set of data for transmission by a fourth antenna of the plurality of antennas, wherein the pilot symbols are designated for transmission using a fourth set of at least two OFDM symbols, wherein the at least two OFDM symbols of the fourth set are non-consecutive in both the time domain and the frequency domain; wherein no two of the OFDM symbols of the first, second, third, and fourth sets of at least two OFDM symbols occupy the same position in both the time domain and the frequency domain, and wherein the OFDM symbols in the first, second, third, and fourth sets of at least two OFDM symbols include at least two OFDM symbols that have consecutive positions in either the time domain or the frequency domain; transmitting the first set of data, including the pilot symbols inserted within the first set of data, using the first antenna; transmitting the second set of data, including the pilot symbols inserted within the second set of data, using the second antenna; transmitting the third set of data, including the pilot symbols inserted within the third set of data, using the third antenna; and transmitting the fourth set of data, including the pilot symbols inserted within the fourth set of data, using the fourth antenna.