Timing and Carrier Synchronization in Wireless Communication Systems: A Survey and Classification of Research in the Last 5 Years

Timing and carrier synchronization is a fundamental requirement for any wireless communication system to work properly. Timing synchronization is the process by which a receiver node determines the correct instants of time at which to sample the incoming signal. Carrier synchronization is the process by which a receiver adapts the frequency and phase of its local carrier oscillator with those of the received signal. In this paper, we survey the literature over the last 5 years (2010–2014) and present a comprehensive literature review and classification of the recent research progress in achieving timing and carrier synchronization in single-input single-output (SISO), multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), cooperative relaying, and multiuser/multicell interference networks. Considering both single-carrier and multi-carrier communication systems, we survey and categorize the timing and carrier synchronization techniques proposed for the different communication systems focusing on the system model assumptions for synchronization, the synchronization challenges, and the state-of-the-art synchronization solutions and their limitations. Finally, we envision some future research directions

JOINT TIMING SYNCHRONIZATION AND CHANNEL ESTIMATION USING PERFECT SEQUENCE IN UPLINK TIME DOMAIN SYNCHRONOUS OFDMA

Time Domain Synchronous Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (TDS-OFDMA) is used in mobile broadband wireless access scheme in uplink transmission. This leads to multiple user interference due to timing offset and frequency offset. In this paper, the effect of timing offset and channel estimation in mobile broadband system is analysed. Time-space two dimensional structure is used in TDS-OFDMA and perfect sequence is used for guard interval to achieve perfect timing synchronization and channel estimation for each user. Simulations are performed for timing synchronization and channel estimation using perfect sequence under Urban channel, Indoor Office B channel and HIPER LAN-A channel. Simulation results show that the timing synchronization is achieved and channel estimation performance using perfect sequence is better than CAZAC and PN Sequences

Frequency offset estimation for IFDMA uplink systems

This paper proposes two frequency offset estimation algorithms for the uplink of an Interleaved Frequency-Division Multiple-Access (IFDMA) system. One algorithm performs estimation in the frequency domain and the other in the time domain. Both algorithms are based on the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) principle and use knowledge about pilot symbols. IFDMA utilizes a block-interleaved frequency allocation scheme to exploit the frequency diversity of the channel. In the presence of frequency offsets between users, multiple-access interference (MAI) appears, which has a negative impact on existing frequency offset estimation algorithms. The proposed algorithms are robust, since a special construction of pilot symbols allows to exclude a large amount of MAI in the presence of frequency offsets between users. As a result, the proposed time domain frequency estimation algorithm outperforms the frequency domain algorithm and all other known schemes

AirSync: Enabling Distributed Multiuser MIMO with Full Spatial Multiplexing

The enormous success of advanced wireless devices is pushing the demand for higher wireless data rates. Denser spectrum reuse through the deployment of more access points per square mile has the potential to successfully meet the increasing demand for more bandwidth. In theory, the best approach to density increase is via distributed multiuser MIMO, where several access points are connected to a central server and operate as a large distributed multi-antenna access point, ensuring that all transmitted signal power serves the purpose of data transmission, rather than creating "interference." In practice, while enterprise networks offer a natural setup in which distributed MIMO might be possible, there are serious implementation difficulties, the primary one being the need to eliminate phase and timing offsets between the jointly coordinated access points. In this paper we propose AirSync, a novel scheme which provides not only time but also phase synchronization, thus enabling distributed MIMO with full spatial multiplexing gains. AirSync locks the phase of all access points using a common reference broadcasted over the air in conjunction with a Kalman filter which closely tracks the phase drift. We have implemented AirSync as a digital circuit in the FPGA of the WARP radio platform. Our experimental testbed, comprised of two access points and two clients, shows that AirSync is able to achieve phase synchronization within a few degrees, and allows the system to nearly achieve the theoretical optimal multiplexing gain. We also discuss MAC and higher layer aspects of a practical deployment. To the best of our knowledge, AirSync offers the first ever realization of the full multiuser MIMO gain, namely the ability to increase the number of wireless clients linearly with the number of jointly coordinated access points, without reducing the per client rate.Comment: Submitted to Transactions on Networkin