Advanced Modulation and Coding Technology Conference

The objectives, approach, and status of all current LeRC-sponsored industry contracts and university grants are presented. The following topics are covered: (1) the LeRC Space Communications Program, and Advanced Modulation and Coding Projects; (2) the status of four contracts for development of proof-of-concept modems; (3) modulation and coding work done under three university grants, two small business innovation research contracts, and two demonstration model hardware development contracts; and (4) technology needs and opportunities for future missions

Space Shuttle/TDRSS communication and tracking systems analysis

In order to evaluate the technical and operational problem areas and provide a recommendation, the enhancements to the Tracking and Data Delay Satellite System (TDRSS) and Shuttle must be evaluated through simulation and analysis. These enhancement techniques must first be characterized, then modeled mathematically, and finally updated into LinCsim (analytical simulation package). The LinCsim package can then be used as an evaluation tool. Three areas of potential enhancements were identified: shuttle payload accommodations, TDRSS SSA and KSA services, and shuttle tracking system and navigation sensors. Recommendations for each area were discussed

Proceedings of the Mobile Satellite Conference

A satellite-based mobile communications system provides voice and data communications to mobile users over a vast geographic area. The technical and service characteristics of mobile satellite systems (MSSs) are presented and form an in-depth view of the current MSS status at the system and subsystem levels. Major emphasis is placed on developments, current and future, in the following critical MSS technology areas: vehicle antennas, networking, modulation and coding, speech compression, channel characterization, space segment technology and MSS experiments. Also, the mobile satellite communications needs of government agencies are addressed, as is the MSS potential to fulfill them

Detection, Receivers, and Performance of CPFSK and CPCK

Continuous Phase Modulation (CPM) is a power/bandwidth efficient signaling technique for data transmission. In this thesis, two subclasses of this modulation called Continuous Phase Frequency Shift Keying (CPFSK) and Continuous Phase Chirp Keying (CPCK) are considered and their descriptions and properties are discussed in detail and several illustrations are given. Bayesian Maximum Likelihood Ratio Test (MLRT) is designed for detection of CPFSK and CPCK in AWGN channel. Based on this test, an optimum receiver structure, that minimizes the total probability of error, is obtained. Using high- and low-SNR approximations in the Bayesian test, two receivers, whose performances are analytically easy-to-evaluate relative to the optimum receiver, are identified. Next, a Maximum Likelihood Sequence Detection (MLSD) technique for CPFSK and CPCK is considered and a simplified and easy-to-understand structure of the receiver is presented. Finally, a novel Decision Aided Receiver (DAR) for detection of CPFSK and CPCK is presented and closed-form expressions for its Bits Error Rate (BER) performance are derived. Throughout the thesis, performances of the receivers are presented in terms of probability of error as a function of Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), modulation parameters and number of observation intervals of the received waveform. Analytical results wherever possible and, in general, simulation results are presented. An analysis of numerical results is given from the viewpoint of the ability of CPFSK and CPCK to operate over AWGN Channel

A General Framework for Analyzing, Characterizing, and Implementing Spectrally Modulated, Spectrally Encoded Signals

Fourth generation (4G) communications will support many capabilities while providing universal, high speed access. One potential enabler for these capabilities is software defined radio (SDR). When controlled by cognitive radio (CR) principles, the required waveform diversity is achieved via a synergistic union called CR-based SDR. Research is rapidly progressing in SDR hardware and software venues, but current CR-based SDR research lacks the theoretical foundation and analytic framework to permit efficient implementation. This limitation is addressed here by introducing a general framework for analyzing, characterizing, and implementing spectrally modulated, spectrally encoded (SMSE) signals within CR-based SDR architectures. Given orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is a 4G candidate signal, OFDM-based signals are collectively classified as SMSE since modulation and encoding are spectrally applied. The proposed framework provides analytic commonality and unification of SMSE signals. Applicability is first shown for candidate 4G signals, and resultant analytic expressions agree with published results. Implementability is then demonstrated in multiple coexistence scenarios via modeling and simulation to reinforce practical utility

Study of continuous-phase four-state modulation for cordless telecommunications. Assessment by simulation of CP-QFSK as an alternative modulation scheme for TDMA digital cordless telecommunications systems operating in indoor applications

One of the major driving elements behind the explosive boom in wireless revolution is the advances in the field of modulation which plays a fundamental role in any communication system, and especially in cellular radio systems. Hence, the elaborate choice of an efficient modulation scheme is of paramount importance in the design and employment of any communications system. Work presented in this thesis is an investigation (study) of the feasibility of whether multilevel FSK modulation scheme would provide a viable alternative modem that can be employed in TDMA cordless communications systems. In the thesis the design and performance analysis of a non-coherent multi-level modem that offers a great deal of bandwidth efficiency and hardware simplicity is studied in detail. Simulation results demonstrate that 2RC pre-modulation filter pulse shaping with a modulation index of 0.3, and pre-detection filter normalized equivalent noise bandwidth of 1.5 are optimum system parameter values. Results reported in chapter 5 signify that an adjacent channel rejection factor of around 40 dB has been achieved at channel spacing of 1.5 times the symbol rate while the DECT system standards stipulated a much lower rejection limit criterion (25-30dB), implying that CP-QFSK modulation out-performs the conventional GMSK as it causes significantly less ACI, thus it is more spectrally efficient in a multi-channel system. However, measured system performance in terms of BER indicates that this system does not coexist well with other interferers as at delay spreads between 100ns to 200ns, which are commonly encountered in such indoor environment, a severe degradation in system performance apparently caused by multi-path fading has been noticed, and there exists a noise floor of about 40 dB, i.e. high irreducible error rate of less than 5.10-3. Implementing MRC diversity combiner and BCH codec has brought in a good gain.Higher Education Ministr

Modem design for digital satellite communications

The thesis is concerned with the design of a phase-shift keying system for a digital modem, operating over a satellite link. Computer simulation tests and theoretical analyses are used to assess the proposed design. The optimum design of both transmitter and receiver filters for the system to be used in the modem are discussed. Sinusoidal roll-off spectrum with different roll-off factor and optimum truncation lengths of the sample impulse response are designed for the proposed scheme to approximate to the theoretical ideal. It has used an EF bandpass filter to band limit the modulated signal, which forms part of the satellite channel modelling. The high power amplifier (HPA) at the earth station has been used in the satellite channel modelling due to its effect in introducing nonlinear AMAM and AM-PM conversion effects and distortion on the transmitted signal from the earth station. The satellite transponder is assumed to be operating in a linear mode. Different phase-shift keying signals such as differentially encoded quaternary phase-shift keying (DEQPSK), offset quaternary phase-shift keying (OQPSK) and convolutionally encoded 8PSK (CE8PSK) signals are analysed and discussed in the thesis, when the high power amplifier (HPA) at the earth station is operating in a nonlinear mode. Convolutional encoding is discussed when applied to the system used in the modem, and a Viterbi -algorithm decoder at the receiver has been used, for CE8PSK signals for a nonlinear satellite channel. A method of feed-forward synchronisation scheme is designed for carrier recovery in CE8PSK receiver. The thesis describes a method of baseband linearizing the baseband signal in order to reduce the nonlinear effects caused by the HPA at the earth station. The scheme which compensates for the nonlinear effects of the HPA by predistorting the baseband signal prior to modulation as opposed to correcting the distortion after modulation, thus reducing the effects of nonlinear distortion introduced by the HPA. The results of the improvement are presented. The advanced technology of digital signal processors (DSPs) has been used in the implementation of the demodulation and digital filtering parts of the modem replacing large parts of conventional circuits. The Viterbi-algorithm decoder for CE8PSK signals has been implemented using a digital signal processor chip, giving excellent performance and is a cost effective and easy way for future developments and any modifications, The results showed that, by using the various studied techniques, as well as the implementation of digital signal processor chip in parts of the modem, a potentially more cost effective modem can be obtained

Proceedings of the Second International Mobile Satellite Conference (IMSC 1990)

Presented here are the proceedings of the Second International Mobile Satellite Conference (IMSC), held June 17-20, 1990 in Ottawa, Canada. Topics covered include future mobile satellite communications concepts, aeronautical applications, modulation and coding, propagation and experimental systems, mobile terminal equipment, network architecture and control, regulatory and policy considerations, vehicle antennas, and speech compression