Systems and methods for reducing power consumption using a variable constraint length convolutional encoder

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for selecting transmission parameters used in the transmission of a communication signal in a wireless communications device. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for determining a convolutional code constraint length and/or a modulation type is provided. The method includes obtaining a channel condition for a channel associated with transmission of the communication signal. Based at least in part on the channel condition, the method includes selecting a convolutional code constraint length and/or a modulation type for transmitting the communications signal. In some embodiments, the method also includes selecting a data rate for transmitting the communications signal. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.

1 . A method for determining a convolutional code constraint length for use in transmitting a communication signal during a data session with a first radio, the method comprising:
 obtaining a channel condition for a channel associated with transmission of the communication signal during the data session with the first radio; and   selecting a convolutional code constraint length to be used for encoding the communication signal, wherein the selection of the convolutional constraint length is performed via execution of instructions by a computing device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first radio comprises PHY and MAC circuitry operable to communicate the communication signal using a wireless personal area network (WPAN). 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: selecting, based at least in part on the channel condition, a code rate to be used to encode the communication signal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising: communicating the selected code rate to a convolutional encoder configured to encode the communication signal at the selected code rate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 receiving the encoded communication signal from the convolutional encoder; and   adjusting the code rate by omitting at least one coded bit of the communication signal received from the convolutional encoder.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the convolutional code constraint length is selected based in part on power consumption estimate information with respect to a convolutional decoder. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting the convolutional code constraint length comprises:
 comparing the channel condition to a threshold channel condition; and   selecting the convolutional code constraint length based at least in part on the comparison.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising accessing a data structure or evaluating a formula or algorithm to select the constraint length associated with the threshold channel condition. 
     
     
         9 . A computer program product, comprising: a computer-readable storage device comprising:
 code operable to cause a computer to obtain a channel condition for a channel associated with transmission of a communication signal during a data session with a first radio; and   code operable to cause a computer to select a convolutional code constraint length to be used for encoding the communication signal.   
     
     
         10 . A wireless communication apparatus comprising:
 a transmitting device configured to transmit a communication signal during a data session with a first radio, the transmitting device comprising a circuit configured to determine a convolutional code constraint length for use in transmitting the communication signal, the circuit configured to:   obtain a channel condition for a channel associated with transmission of the communication signal during the data session with the first radio; and   select a convolutional code constraint length to be used for encoding the communication signal.   
     
     
         11 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first radio comprises PHY and MAC circuitry operable to communicate the communication signal using a wireless personal area network (WPAN). 
     
     
         12 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the circuit is configured to: select, based at least in part on the channel condition, a code rate to be used to encode the communication signal. 
     
     
         13 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the circuit is further configured to: communicate the selected code rate to a convolutional encoder configured to encode the communication signal at the selected code rate. 
     
     
         14 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the circuit is further configured to:
 receive the encoded communication signal from the convolutional encoder; and   adjust the code rate by omitting at least one coded bit of the communication signal received from the convolutional encoder.   
     
     
         15 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the circuit is configured to select the convolutional code constraint length based in part on power consumption estimate information with respect to a convolutional decoder. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for determining a convolutional code constraint length for use in transmitting a communication signal during a data session with a first radio, the apparatus comprising:
 means for obtaining a channel condition for a channel associated with transmission of the communication signal during the data session with the first radio; and   means for selecting a convolutional code constraint length to be used for encoding the communication signal.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first radio comprises PHY and MAC circuitry operable to communicate the communication signal using a wireless personal area network (WPAN). 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising: means for selecting, based at least in part on the channel condition, a code rate to be used to encode the communication signal. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising: means for communicating the selected code rate to a convolutional encoder configured to encode the communication signal at the selected code rate. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 means for receiving the encoded communication signal from the convolutional encoder; and   means for adjusting the code rate by omitting at least one coded bit of the communication signal received from the convolutional encoder.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the obtaining means and the selecting means comprise one or more circuits. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the selecting means is configured to select the convolutional code constraint length based in part on power consumption estimate information with respect to a convolutional decoder. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising: means for selecting, based at least in part on the channel condition, a modulation type to be used for modulating the communication signal. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising: means for selecting, based at least in part on the channel condition, a data rate to be used for transmitting the communication signal. 
     
     
         25 . A processing apparatus for a wireless network configured to transmit a communication signal during a data session with a first radio, the processing apparatus comprising:
 a memory for storing a channel condition for a channel associated with transmission of the communication signal and a plurality of convolutional code constraint lengths; and   a processor configured to select a convolutional code constraint length for encoding the communication signal.   
     
     
         26 . A method for decoding a communication signal received during a data session with a first radio, the communication signal encoded with a convolutional code constraint length selected from a plurality of convolutional code constraint lengths, the method comprising:
 determining the convolutional code constraint length used to encode the communication signal; and   decoding the communication signal based at least in part on the determined convolutional code constraint length, wherein the determining and the decoding are performed via execution of instructions by a computing device.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the first radio comprises PHY and MAC circuitry operable to communicate the communication signal using a wireless personal area network (WPAN). 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the communication signal comprises a header comprising information related to the convolutional code constraint length used to encode the communication signal, and determining the convolutional code constraint length comprises extracting the information from the header and determining the constraint length based at least in part on the extracted information. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein decoding the communication signal comprises decoding the communication signal with one or more convolutional decoders, the one or more convolutional decoders configured such that a signal encoded with any one of the plurality of convolutional code constraint lengths can be decoded by the one or more convolutional decoders. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 receiving from a transmitting device an inquiry whether a communication signal encoded with a convolutional code constraint length selected from the plurality of convolutional code constraint lengths can be decoded; and   communicating to the transmitting device a response indicative of whether the communication signal can be decoded.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising: communicating to a transmitting device channel condition information for a channel associated with transmission of the communication signal during the data session with the first radio. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising: determining a modulation type used to modulate the communication signal; and demodulating the communication signal based at least in part on the determined modulation type. 
     
     
         33 . A computer program product, comprising: a computer-readable storage medium comprising:
 code operable to determine a convolutional code constraint length used to encode a communication signal communicated during a data session with a first radio; and   code operable to decode the communication signal based at least in part on the determined convolutional code constraint length.   
     
     
         34 . A wireless communication apparatus comprising:
 a receiving device configured to receive a communication signal during a data session with a first radio, the communication signal encoded with a convolutional code constraint length selected from a plurality of convolutional code constraint lengths, the receiving device comprising a circuit configured to:   determine a convolutional code constraint length used to encode the communication signal communicated during the data session with the first radio; and   decode the communication signal based at least in part on the determined convolutional code constraint length.   
     
     
         35 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the first radio comprises PHY and MAC circuitry operable to communicate the communication signal using a wireless personal area network (WPAN). 
     
     
         36 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the communication signal comprises a header comprising information related to the convolutional code constraint length used to encode the communication signal, and the circuit is further configured to extract the information from the header and determine the constraint length based at least in part on the extracted information. 
     
     
         37 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the receiving device further comprises one or more convolutional decoders for decoding the communication signal based at least in part on the selected constraint length, the one or more convolutional decoders configured such that a signal encoded with any one of the plurality of convolutional code constraint lengths can be decoded by the one or more convolutional decoders. 
     
     
         38 . An apparatus for decoding a communication signal received during a data session with a first radio, the communication signal encoded with a convolutional code constraint length selected from a plurality of convolutional code constraint lengths, the apparatus comprising:
 means for determining the convolutional code constraint length used to encode the communication signal communicated during the data session with the first radio; and   means for decoding the communication signal based at least in part on the determined convolutional code constraint length.   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the first radio comprises PHY and MAC circuitry operable to communicate the communication signal using a wireless personal area network (WPAN). 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the determining means and the decoding means comprise one or more circuits. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 means for receiving from a transmitting device an inquiry whether a communication signal encoded with a convolutional code constraint length selected from the plurality of convolutional code constraint lengths can be decoded; and   means for communicating to the transmitting device a response indicative of whether the communication signal can be decoded by the decoding means.   
     
     
         42 . A processing apparatus for a wireless network operable to communicate a communication signal during a data session with a first radio, the communication signal encoded with a convolutional code constraint length selected from a plurality of convolutional code constraint lengths, the processing apparatus comprising:
 a processor configured to determine the convolutional code constraint length used to encode the communication signal during the data session with the first radio and to decode the communication signal based at least in part on the determined convolutional code constraint length.   
     
     
         43 . The processing apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein the communication signal comprises a header comprising information related to the convolutional code constraint length used to encode the communication signal, and the processor is configured to extract the information from the header and determine the constraint length based at least in part on the extracted information.