Patent ID: 7773951

Claim:
A method of determining channel quality information for a transmit propagation channel associated with a wireless communication device, the method comprising: in a first mode, generating channel quality information according to a first algorithm that does not depend on current propagation channel estimates by mapping a receiver input signal quality for the wireless communication device to a data rate selection that is achievable at a desired probability over a range of hypothesized propagation channel conditions, wherein said range is not particularized for current propagation channel estimates, and wherein said mapping is based on using a Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF) and the receiver input signal quality to identify a data rate that is achievable with respect to a desired error limit over the range of hypothesized propagation channel realizations; and in a second mode, generating channel quality information according to a second algorithm that depends on current propagation channel estimates, based on: selecting a receiver input signal quality corresponding to receiver input signal quality measurements made by the wireless communication device; selecting a propagation channel realization or a constrained range of propagation channel realizations that particularly corresponds to the current propagation channel estimates; and identifying a data rate that can be supported for the receiver input signal quality and the selected propagation channel realization or constrained range of propagation channel realizations.