A near-optimal linear crosstalk precoder for downstream VDSL

This paper presents a linear crosstalk precoder for VDSL that has a low run-time complexity. A lower bound on the data-rate of the precoder is developed and guarantees that the precoder achieves near-optimal performance in 99% of VDSL channels

A Near-Optimal Linear Crosstalk Precoder for VDSL

Crosstalk is the major source of performance degradation in VDSL. In downstream transmission crosstalk precoding can be applied. The transmitted signal is predistorted, such that the predistortion annihilates with the crosstalk introduced in the binder. Several crosstalk precoders have been proposed. Unfortunately they either give poor performance or require non-linear operations, which results in a high complexity. In this paper we present a simple, linear diagonalizing crosstalk precoder with low run-time complexity. A lower bound on the performance of the DP is derived. This allows performance to be predicted without explicit knowledge of the crosstalk channels, which simplies service provisioning considerably. This bound shows that the DP operates close to the single-user bound. So the DP is a low complexity design with predictable, near-optimal performance. The combination of spectra optimization and crosstalk precoding is also considered. Spectra optimization in a broadcast channel generally involves a highly complex optimization problem. Since the DP decouples transmission on each line, the spectrum on each modem can be optimized through a dual decomposition, leading to a significant reduction in complexity

The Linear Zero-Forcing Crosstalk Canceller is Near-optimal in DSL Channels

The design and optimization of orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) systems typically take the following form: The design objective is usually to maximize the total sum rate which is the sum of individual rates in each frequency tone. The design constraints are usually linear constraints imposed across all tones. This paper explains why dual methods are ideally suited for this class of problems. The main result is the following: Regardless of whether the objective or the constraints are convex, the duality gap for this class of problems is always zero in the limit as the number of frequency tones goes to infinity. As the dual problem typically decouples into many smaller per-tone problems, solving the dual is much more efficient. This gives an efficient method to find the global optimum of non-convex optimization problems for the OFDM system. Multiuser optimal power allocation, optimal frequency planning, and optimal low-complexity crosstalk cancellation for vectored DSL are used to illustrate this point

Improved Linear Crosstalk Precompensation for DSL

Crosstalk is the major source of performance degradation in next generation DSL systems such as VDSL. In downstream communications transmitting modems are co- located at the central office. This allows crosstalk precompensation to be employed. In crosstalk precompensation the transmitted signal is pre-distorted such that the pre-distortion destructively interferes with the crosstalk introduced by the channel. Existing crosstalk precompensation techniques either give poor performance or require modification of customer premises equipment (CPE). This is impractical since there are millions of legacy CPE modems already in use. We present a novel crosstalk precompensation technique based on a diagonalization of the crosstalk channel matrix. This technique does not require modification of CPE. Furthermore, certain properties of the DSL channel ensure that this diagonalizing precompensator achieves near-optimal performance

Multi-User Signal and Spectra Coordination for Digital Subscriber Lines

The appetite amongst consumers for ever higher data-rates seems insatiable. This booming market presents a huge opportunity for telephone and cable operators. It also presents a challenge: the delivery of broadband services to millions of customers across sparsely populated areas. Fully fibre-based networks, whilst technically the most advanced solution, are prohibitively expensive to deploy. Digital subscriber lines (DSL) provide an alternative solution. Seen as a stepping-stone to a fully fibre-based network, DSL operates over telephone lines that are already in place, minimizing the cost of deployment. The basic principle behind DSL technology is to increase data-rate by widening the transmission bandwidth. Unfortunately, operating at high frequencies, in a medium originally designed for voice-band transmission, leads to crosstalk between the different DSLs. Crosstalk is typically 10-15 dB larger than the background noise and is the dominant source of performance degradation in DSL. This thesis develops practical multi-user techniques for mitigating crosstalk in DSL. The techniques proposed have low complexity, low latency, and are compatible with existing customer premises equipment (CPE). In addition to being practical, the techniques also yield near-optimal performance, operating close to the theoretical multi-user channel capacity. Multi-user techniques are based on the coordination of the different users in a network, and this can be done on either a spectral or signal level

Physical Layer Techniques for High Frequency Wireline Broadband Systems

This thesis collects contributions to wireline and wireless communication systems with an emphasis on multiuser and multicarrier physical layer technology. To deliver increased capacity, modern wireline access systems such as G.fast extend the signal bandwidth up from tens to hundreds of MHz. This ambitious development revealed a number of unforeseen hurdles such as the impact of impedance changes in various forms. Impedance changes have a strong effect on the performance of multi-user crosstalk mitigation techniques such as vectoring. The first part of the thesis presents papers covering the identification of one of these problems, a model describing why it occurs and a method to mitigate its effects, improving line stability for G.fast systems.A second part of the thesis deals with the effects of temperature changes on wireline channels. When a vectored (MIMO) wireline system is initialized, channel estimates need to be obtained. This thesis presents contributions on the feasibility of re-using channel coefficients to speed up the vectoring startup procedures, even after the correct coefficients have changed, e.g., due to temperature changes. We also present extensive measurement results showing the effects of temperature changes on copper channels using a temperature chamber and British cables. The last part of the thesis presents three papers on the convergence of physical layer technologies, more specifically the deployment of OFDM-based radio systems using twisted pairs in different ways. In one proposed scenario, the idea of using the access copper lines to deploy small cells inside users' homes is explored. The feasibility of the concept, the design of radio-heads and a practical scheme for crosstalk mitigation are presented in three contributions