Method of dynamic transmit scheduling using channel quality feedback

Abstract

A method and system for dynamic rate switching via medium access channel layer signaling is disclosed, wherein data rates for high data rate channels are automatically shifted up or down based on a predetermined metric. In a preferred embodiment, data rates are automatically shifted up or down based on transmit channel gain required to maintain a required signal to noise ratio.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for scheduling a plurality of mobile units for data transmission, the method comprising the steps of: 
 determining a plurality of mobile units that require data transmission;    determine power control feedback information for each mobile unit within the plurality of mobile units that require data transmission; and    schedule the plurality of mobile units for data transmission based on their power control feedback information.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1    further comprises the step of determining C/I information for each mobile unit within the plurality of mobile units and scheduling the plurality of mobile units additionally based on C/I.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 1    wherein the step of scheduling the plurality of mobile units for data transmission comprises the step of scheduling the plurality of mobile units for data transmission over a common channel shared by the plurality of mobile units.  
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 2    wherein the step of determining C/I information for each mobile unit comprises the step of determining feedback information of a common channel.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for scheduling mobile units for data transmission, the apparatus comprising: 
 a channel statistic estimator, wherein the channel statistic estimator has power control information for a plurality of mobile units as an input and outputs a power-control statistic based on the power control information;    a scheduler having the power-control statistic as an input and outputting scheduled mobile units based on the power control statistic.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of    claim 5    wherein the channel statistic estimator additionally has C/I feedback information for the plurality of mobile units as an input and outputs a statistic based on both power control and C/I information for each mobile unit.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of    claim 6    wherein the C/I information is C/I feedback information for a common channel shared by the plurality of mobile units.