Channel estimation techniques for filter bank multicarrier based transceivers for next generation of wireless networks

A dissertation submitted to Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering (Electrical and Information Engineering), August 2017The fourth generation (4G) of wireless communication system is designed based on the principles of cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (CP-OFDM) where the cyclic prefix (CP) is used to combat inter-symbol interference (ISI) and inter-carrier interference (ICI) in order to achieve higher data rates in comparison to the previous generations of wireless networks. Various filter bank multicarrier systems have been considered as potential waveforms for the fast emerging next generation (xG) of wireless networks (especially the fifth generation (5G) networks). Some examples of the considered waveforms are orthogonal frequency division multiplexing with offset quadrature amplitude modulation based filter bank, universal filtered multicarrier (UFMC), bi-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (BFDM) and generalized frequency division multiplexing (GFDM). In perfect reconstruction (PR) or near perfect reconstruction (NPR) filter bank designs, these aforementioned FBMC waveforms adopt the use of well-designed prototype filters (which are used for designing the synthesis and analysis filter banks) so as to either replace or minimize the CP usage of the 4G networks in order to provide higher spectral efficiencies for the overall increment in data rates. The accurate designing of the FIR low-pass prototype filter in NPR filter banks results in minimal signal distortions thus, making the analysis filter bank a time-reversed version of the corresponding synthesis filter bank. However, in non-perfect reconstruction (Non-PR) the analysis filter bank is not directly a time-reversed version of the corresponding synthesis filter bank as the prototype filter impulse response for this system is formulated (in this dissertation) by the introduction of randomly generated errors. Hence, aliasing and amplitude distortions are more prominent for Non-PR. Channel estimation (CE) is used to predict the behaviour of the frequency selective channel and is usually adopted to ensure excellent reconstruction of the transmitted symbols. These techniques can be broadly classified as pilot based, semi-blind and blind channel estimation schemes. In this dissertation, two linear pilot based CE techniques namely the least square (LS) and linear minimum mean square error (LMMSE), and three adaptive channel estimation schemes namely least mean square (LMS), normalized least mean square (NLMS) and recursive least square (RLS) are presented, analyzed and documented. These are implemented while exploiting the near orthogonality properties of offset quadrature amplitude modulation (OQAM) to mitigate the effects of interference for two filter bank waveforms (i.e. OFDM/OQAM and GFDM/OQAM) for the next generation of wireless networks assuming conditions of both NPR and Non-PR in slow and fast frequency selective Rayleigh fading channel. Results obtained from the computer simulations carried out showed that the channel estimation schemes performed better in an NPR filter bank system as compared with Non-PR filter banks. The low performance of Non-PR system is due to the amplitude distortion and aliasing introduced from the random errors generated in the system that is used to design its prototype filters. It can be concluded that RLS, NLMS, LMS, LMMSE and LS channel estimation schemes offered the best normalized mean square error (NMSE) and bit error rate (BER) performances (in decreasing order) for both waveforms assuming both NPR and Non-PR filter banks. Keywords: Channel estimation, Filter bank, OFDM/OQAM, GFDM/OQAM, NPR, Non-PR, 5G, Frequency selective channel.CK201

Estimation of FBMC/OQAM Fading Channels Using Dual Kalman Filters

We address the problem of estimating time-varying fading channels in filter bank multicarrier (FBMC/OQAM) wireless systems based on pilot symbols. The standard solution to this problem is the least square (LS) estimator or the minimum mean square error (MMSE) estimator with possible adaptive implementation using recursive least square (RLS) algorithm or least mean square (LMS) algorithm. However, these adaptive filters cannot well-exploit fading channel statistics. To take advantage of fading channel statistics, the time evolution of the fading channel is modeled by an autoregressive process and tracked by Kalman filter. Nevertheless, this requires the autoregressive parameters which are usually unknown. Thus, we propose to jointly estimate the FBMC/OQAM fading channels and their autoregressive parameters based on dual optimal Kalman filters. Once the fading channel coefficients at pilot symbol positions are estimated by the proposed method, the fading channel coefficients at data symbol positions are then estimated by using some interpolation methods such as linear, spline, or low-pass interpolation. The comparative simulation study we carried out with existing techniques confirms the effectiveness of the proposed method

Estimation of FBMC/OQAM Fading Channels Using Dual Kalman Filters

We address the problem of estimating time-varying fading channels in filter bank multicarrier (FBMC/OQAM) wireless systems based on pilot symbols. The standard solution to this problem is the least square (LS) estimator or the minimum mean square error (MMSE) estimator with possible adaptive implementation using recursive least square (RLS) algorithm or least mean square (LMS) algorithm. However, these adaptive filters cannot well-exploit fading channel statistics. To take advantage of fading channel statistics, the time evolution of the fading channel is modeled by an autoregressive process and tracked by Kalman filter. Nevertheless, this requires the autoregressive parameters which are usually unknown. Thus, we propose to jointly estimate the FBMC/OQAM fading channels and their autoregressive parameters based on dual optimal Kalman filters. Once the fading channel coefficients at pilot symbol positions are estimated by the proposed method, the fading channel coefficients at data symbol positions are then estimated by using some interpolation methods such as linear, spline, or low-pass interpolation. The comparative simulation study we carried out with existing techniques confirms the effectiveness of the proposed method

Orthogonal transmultiplexers : extensions to digital subscriber line (DSL) communications

An orthogonal transmultiplexer which unifies multirate filter bank theory and communications theory is investigated in this dissertation. Various extensions of the orthogonal transmultiplexer techniques have been made for digital subscriber line communication applications. It is shown that the theoretical performance bounds of single carrier modulation based transceivers and multicarrier modulation based transceivers are the same under the same operational conditions. Single carrier based transceiver systems such as Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) and Carrierless Amplitude and Phase (CAP) modulation scheme, multicarrier based transceiver systems such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) or Discrete Multi Tone (DMT) and Discrete Subband (Wavelet) Multicarrier based transceiver (DSBMT) techniques are considered in this investigation. The performance of DMT and DSBMT based transceiver systems for a narrow band interference and their robustness are also investigated. It is shown that the performance of a DMT based transceiver system is quite sensitive to the location and strength of a single tone (narrow band) interference. The performance sensitivity is highlighted in this work. It is shown that an adaptive interference exciser can alleviate the sensitivity problem of a DMT based system. The improved spectral properties of DSBMT technique reduces the performance sensitivity for variations of a narrow band interference. It is shown that DSBMT technique outperforms DMT and has a more robust performance than the latter. The superior performance robustness is shown in this work. Optimal orthogonal basis design using cosine modulated multirate filter bank is discussed. An adaptive linear combiner at the output of analysis filter bank is implemented to eliminate the intersymbol and interchannel interferences. It is shown that DSBMT is the most suitable technique for a narrow band interference environment. A blind channel identification and optimal MMSE based equalizer employing a nonmaximally decimated filter bank precoder / postequalizer structure is proposed. The performance of blind channel identification scheme is shown not to be sensitive to the characteristics of unknown channel. The performance of the proposed optimal MMSE based equalizer is shown to be superior to the zero-forcing equalizer

Estudo de formas de modulação multiportadora por banco de filtros (FBMC) em um contexto de sistemas de comunicação de quinta geração (5G) e rádio cognitivo

Trabalho de Conclusão Curso (graduação)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Tecnologia, Departamento de Engenharia Elétrica, 2018.Com o aumento da demanda por sistemas de comunicação sem o, pesquisas foram realizadas a m de desenvolver uma nova geração de redes móveis, a Quinta Geração (5G). Deste conjunto de soluções, é esperado um melhor desempenho da taxa de transmissão e da latência em relação à Quarta Geração (4G), por exemplo. Além disso, também é esperado a aplicação de novas tecnologias, como a internet das coisas e o rádio cognitivo. O rádio cognitivo é uma solução proposta para a crescente escassez do espectro de frequência, para o qual é necessária uma forma de onda com menor radiação fora de banda. No entanto, a forma de onda dominante nos sistemas de comunicação sem o atualmente é a multiplexação por divisão de frequências ortogonais (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing - OFDM), que possui alta radiação fora de banda por ser baseada no uso de pulsos retangulares. Assim, neste trabalho, a multiportadora baseada em banco de ltros (Filter Banks Multicarrier - FBMC) é proposta. Neste contexto, este trabalho inicialmente apresenta os fundamentos de sistemas multiporta- dora e de banco de ltros a m de melhor compreender os sistemas FBMC. E, em seguida, alguns métodos de projeto de ltro com menor energia fora de banda são propostos para implementação em tais sistemas. Por m, os resultados de simulações de sistemas OFDM e FBMC são apresentados e verica-se que os sistemas FBMC possuem uma menor energia fora de banda, o que os tornam potenciais candidatos para 5G com aplicação em rádio cognitivo.With increasing demand for wireless communication systems, surveys were conducted in order to develop a new generation of mobile networks, the Fifth Generation (5G). From this set of solutions, it is expected a better performance for throughput and latency in comparison to the Fourth Generation (4G), for example. In addition, it is also expected an application of new technologies, such as internet of things and cognitive radio. Cognitive radio is one of the proposed solutions to a growing frequency spectrum shortage, for which it is necessary a waveform with low out of band radiation. However, the dominant waveform in the current communication systems is Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM), which has high out-of-band radiation once is based in rectangular pulses. Thus, in this work, an alternative technology is proposed, the Filter Banks Multicarrier (FBMC). In this context, this work presents the fundamentals of multi-carrier systems and lter banks in order to better understand FBMC systems. And, in following, some lter design methods with lower out-of-band radiation are proposed for implementation in FBMC systems. Finally, results from the simulations of OFDM and FBMC systems are presented and it is noticeable that FBMC systems presented lower out-of-band radiation, what makes them potential candidates for 5G with cognitive radio application

Filtered Multicarrier Transmission

Orthogonal frequency‐division multiplexing (OFDM) has been adopted as the waveform of choice in the existing and emerging broadband wireless communication systems for a number of advantages it can offer. Nevertheless, investigations of more advanced multicarrier transmission schemes have continued with the aim of eliminating or mitigating its essential limitations. This article discusses multicarrier schemes with enhanced spectrum localization, which manage to reduce the spectral sidelobes of plain OFDM that are problematic in various advanced communication scenarios. These include schemes for enhancing the OFDM waveform characteristics through additional signal processing as well as filter‐bank multicarrier (FBMC) waveforms utilizing frequency‐selective filter banks instead of plain (inverse) discrete Fourier transform processing for waveform generation and demodulation.acceptedVersionPeer reviewe