A method and medium tangibly embodying the method of constructing a lookup
table of modes for encoding data for transmission in a wireless
communication channel from a transmit unit to a receive unit by using at
least one quality parameter of the data and its first-order and
second-order statistical parameters to arrange the modes in the lookup
table. The first-order and second-order statistical parameters can be
determined from a simulation of the wireless communication channel or
from field measurements of the wireless communication channel. The modes
in the lookup table are ordered by a target value of a communication
parameter such as PER, BER, data capacity, signal quality, spectral
efficiency, throughput or another suitable communication parameter set to
achieve a desired quality of service. The quality parameter selected is
conveniently a short-term quality parameter such as
signal-to-interference and noise ratio (SINR), signal-to-noise ratio
(SNR) or power level. During use adjustments depending on the
instantaneous condition of the channel can be used to tune the lookup
table.