The evolution of high rate data services within future wireless networks will
call for new RF access technologies to enable substantial increases in overall
system spectral efficiency at an acceptably low cost to the user. Space-Time Coding
(STC) is an antenna array processing technology currently simulating considerable
Interest across the wireless industry. The invention provides a space-time coding
apparatus having an input, a trellis encoder, a modulator, a demultiplexer, and
a set of signal outputs wherein the input is operable to receive a stream of data.
This allows de-multiplexing to take place after coding and modulation has been
performed. The trellis encoder comprises a convolutional encoder operable to sequentially
group data to provide coded bits to provide QPSK symbols. By the selection of convolutional
encoder rates and/or modulation alphabets STCs of any desired dimensionality may
be produced including multi-dimensional codes.
