If I understood your query correctly. You are asking about the adaptive modulation and coding techniques.
As I work only in lte technology. I would like to put some points here.
Lte network has capability to change modulation and coding schemes dynamically based on UE measurement report.
Coding rate and modulation both are generic term but I would like to explain little bit.
Coding rate is the ratio between actual amount of data is being transmitted/ Total physical bits can be transmitted.
Total physical bits can be calculated.
Modulation is nothing but how many bits are being transmitted on one resource element. In Lte, it can 2, 4 or 6 based on QPSK, 16 QAM and 64 QAM modulation scheme.
A CQI mapping table has defined. which has details like once eNodeB receives a particular CQI value from UE then which Modulation scheme would have to be used and transport block size per TTI.