Rateless wireless systems: Gains, approaches, and challenges

State-of-the-art channel coding schemes promise data rates close to the wireless channel capacity. However, efficient link adaptation techniques are required in order to deliver such throughputs in practice. Traditional rate adaptation schemes, which are reactive and try to “predict” the transmission mode that maximizes throughput based on “transmission quality indicators”, can be highly inefficient in an evolving wireless ecosystem where transmission can become increasingly dynamic and unpredictable. In such scenarios, “rateless” link adaptation can be highly beneficial. Here, we compare popular rateless approaches in terms of gains and practicality in both traditional and more challenging operating scenarios. We also discuss challenges that need to be addressed to make such systems practical for future wireless communication systems.