Enhanced Link Adaptation Methods for Wireless Multi-Carrier Systems

This work describes a family of low feedback, high performance link adaptation algorithms for multi-carrier systems. The methods include the use of the exponential effective SNR mapping (EESM) method as part of the modulation/coding selection process. The drawbacks of current link adaptation algorithms are reviewed, and means of combating the effect of Doppler and fading gain variation are proposed. In addition, a method enabling conventional SNR feedback reports to be converted to the effective SNR domain is described. This allows the effect of variable power allocation on coded BER to be more accurately estimated. Simulation results show that the proposed methods are effective.