Interference Suppression in Multiple Access Communications Using M-Ary Phase Shift Keying Generated via Spectral Encoding

A conceptual transform domain communication system (TDCS) is shown capable of operating successfully using M-Ary phase shift keying (MPSK) data modulation in a multiple access environment. Using spectral encoding, the conceptual TDCS provides an effective means for mitigating interference affects while achieving multiple access communications. The use of transform domain processing with MPSK data modulation (TD-MPSK) provides higher spectral efficiency relative to other modulation techniques (antipodal signaling and cyclic shift keying) considered previously for TDCS applications. The proposed TD-MPSK technique uses spectral encoding for both data and multiple access phase modulations. Demodulation of the spectrally encoded TD-MPSK communication symbols is accomplished using conventional, multi-channel time domain correlation techniques. Analytic expressions for TD-MPSK probability of symbol error (PE) and probability of bit error (PB) are derived and validated using simulated results over the range of signal-to-noise ratios typically considered for communications. This validation includes scenarios with: 1) multiple access interference, 2) spectral notching, 3) jamming present and 4) combinations of all three. For a J/S of 3.14 dB and a Eb/N0 of 6 dB, PB dropped by up to a factor of 3 for TD-QPSK in a MA environment for the case when spectral notching was present versus the case when spectral notching wasn\u27t present. The cross-correlation between communication symbols of different synchronous users can be made identically zero through proper selection of multiple access phase codes (orthogonal signaling). For a synchronous network containing orthogonal users, PE and PB are unaffected as the number of orthogonal network users increases. For a J/S of 3.14 dB and a Eb/N0 of 6 dB, PB dropped by a factor of 12 for TD-QPSK in a MA environment for the case when spectral notching was present versus the case when spectral notching wasn\u27t present

Channel Parameters Estimation Algorithm Based on The Characteristic Function under Impulse Noise Environment

Under communication environments, such as wireless sensor networks, the noise observed usually exhibits impulsive as well as Gaussian characteristics. In the initialization of channel iterative decoder, such as low density parity check codes, it is required in advance to estimate the channel parameters to obtain the prior information from the received signals. In this paper, a blind channel parameters estimator under impulsive noise environment is proposed, which is based on the empirical characteristic function in MPSK/MQAM higher-order modulation system. Simulation results show that for various MPSK/MQAM modulations, the estimator can obtain a more accurate unbiased estimation even though we do not know which kind of higher-order modulation is used

Selected subcarriers QPSK-OFDM transmission schemes to combat frequency disturbances

To combat the impairments caused by frequency disturbances in the power line communications (PLC), a modified conventional QPSK-OFDM transmission scheme is presented. The idea of this scheme is to first group the N OFDM subcarriers into groups of M and then transmit data by selecting a subset of the subcarriers in the group. Real and imaginary parts of QPSK symbols are independently assigned to the selected subcarriers in a group, such that the minimum squared Euclidean distance is maximised. With this kind of symbol assignment to subcarriers our scheme has no net loss in terms of SNR requirements, in AWGN, in comparison to the conventional QPSK-OFDM, even though it has half the data rate of the conventional QPSK-OFDM. We refer to the conventional QPSK-OFDM as Scheme A. Our scheme displays a superior performance over Scheme A and another scheme (Scheme B), in the presence of frequency disturbances and also frequency selective fading noise. We further modify Scheme B and come up with additional two new QPSK-OFDM schemes that have better performance than Scheme B in AWGN and impulse noise. To encode, we apply a (n, k) RS code and a simple permutation code on the conventional QPSK-OFDM scheme, which significantly improves the decoder's performance in the presence of frequency disturbances. A simple narrow band noise model is developed and presented

Performance evaluation for communication systems with receive diversity and interference

Optimum combining (OC) is a well-known coherent detection technique used to combat fading and suppress cochannel interference. In this dissertation, expressions are developed to evaluate the error probability of OC for systems with multiple interferers and multiple receiving branches. Three approaches are taken to derive the expressions. The first one starts from the decision metrics of OC. It facilitates obtaining closed-form expressions for binary phase-shift keying modulation. The second approach utilizes the moment generating function of the output signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR) and results in expressions for symbol and bit error probability for multiple phaseshift keying modulation. The third method uses the probability density function of the output SINR and arrives at expressions of symbol error probability for systems where the interferers may have unequal power levels. Throughout the derivation, it is assumed that the channels are independent Rayleigh fading channels. With these expressions, evaluating the error probability of OC is fast, easy and accurate. Two noncoherent detection schemes based on the multiple symbol differential detection (MSDD) technique are also developed for systems with multiple interferers and multiple receiving branches. The first MSDD scheme is developed for systems where the channel gain of the desired signal is unknown to the receiver, but the covariance matrix of the interference plus noise is known. The maximum-likelihood decision statistic is derived for the detector. The performance of MSDD is demonstrated by analysis and simulation. A sub-optimum decision feedback algorithm is presented to reduce the computation complexity of the MSDD decision statistic. This suboptimum algorithm achieves performance that is very close to that of the optimum algorithm. It can be shown that with an increasing observation interval, the performance of this kind of MSDD approaches that of OC with differential encoding. The second MSDD scheme is developed for the case in which the only required channel information is the channel gain of the interference. It is shown that when the interference power level is high, this MSDD technique can achieve good performance

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

Cognitive Radio Communications for Vehicular Technology – Wavelet Applications

Wireless communications are nowadays a dominant part of our lives: from domotics, through industrial applications and up to infomobility services. The key to the co-existence of wireless systems operating in closely located or even overlapping areas, is sharing of the spectral resource. The optimization of this resource is the main driving force behind the emerging changes in the policies for radio resources allocation. The current approach in spectrum usage specifies fixed frequency bands and transmission power limits for each radio transmitting system. This approach leads to a very low medium utilization factor for some frequency bands, caused by inefficient service allocation over vast geographical areas (radiomobile, radio and TV broadcasting, WiMAX) and also by the usage of large guard bands, obsolete now due to technological progress. A more flexible use of the spectral resource implies that the radio transceivers have the ability to monitor their radio environment and to adapt at specific transmission conditions. If this concept is supplemented with learning and decision capabilities, we refer to the Cognitive Radio (CR) paradigm. Some of the characteristics of a CR include localization, monitoring of the spectrum usage, frequency changing, transmission power control and, finally, the capacity of dynamically altering all these parameters (Haykin, 2005). This new cognitive approach is expected to have an important impact on the future regulations and spectrum policies. The dynamic access at the spectral resource is of extreme interest both for the scientific community as, considering the continuous request for wideband services, for the development of wireless technologies. From this point of view, a fundamental role is played by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) which in 2007 formed the Standards Coordinating Committee (SCC) 41 on Dynamic Spectrum Access Networks (DySPAN) having as main objective a standard for dynamic access wireless networks. Still within the IEEE frame, the 802.22 initiative defines a new WRAN (Wireless Regional Area Network) interface for wideband access based on cognitive radio techniques in the TV guard bands (the so-called “white spaces”). Coupled with the advantages and flexibility of CR systems and technologies, there is an ever-growing interest around the world in exploiting CR-enabled communications in vehicular and transportation environments. The integration of CR devices and cognitive radio networks into vehicles and associated infrastructures can lead to intelligent interactions with the transportation system, among vehicles, and even among radios within vehicles. Thus, improvements can be achieved in radio resource management and energy efficiency, road traffic management, network management, vehicular diagnostics, road traffic awareness for applications such as route planning, mobile commerce, and much more. Still open within the framework of dynamic and distributed access to the radio resource are the methods for monitoring the radio environment (the so-called “spectrum sensing”) and the transceiver technology to be used on the radio channels. A CR system works on a opportunistic basis searching for unused frequency bands called “white spaces” within the radio frequency spectrum with the intent to operate invisibly and without disturbing the primary users (PU) holding a license for one or more frequency bands. Spectrum sensing, that is, the fast and reliable detection of the PU’s even in the presence of in-band noise, is still a very complex problem with a decisive impact on the functionalities and capabilities of the CRs. The spectrum sensing techniques can be classified in two types: local and cooperative (distributed). The local techniques are performed by single devices exploiting the spectrum occupancy information in their spatial neighbourhood and can be divided into three categories (Budiarjo et al., 2008): "matched filter" (detection of pilot signals, preambles, etc.), "energy detection” (signal strength analysis) and “feature detection" (classification of signals according to their characteristics). Also, a combination of local techniques in a multi-stage design can be used to improve the sensing accuracy (Maleki et al., 2010). Nevertheless, the above-mentioned techniques are mostly inefficient for signals with reduced power or affected by phenomena typical for vehicular technology applications, such as shadowing and multi-path fading. To overcome such problems, cooperatives techniques can be used. Cooperative sensing is based on the aggregation of the spectrum data detected by multiple nodes using cognitive convergence algorithms in order to avoid the channel impairment problems that can lead to false detections. (Sanna et al., 2009). Within the energy detection method, a particular attention needs to be paid to the properties of the packets wavelet transformation for subband analysis, which, according to the literature, seems to be a feasible alternative to the classical FFT-based energy detection. Vehicular applications are in most cases characterized by the need of coping with fast changes in the radio environment, which lead, in this specific case of cognitive communication, to constrains in terms of short execution time of the spectrum sensing operations. From this point of view, the computational complexity of the wavelet packets method is of the same order of the state-of-the-art FFT algorithms, but the number of mathematical operations is lower using IIR polyphase filters (Murroni et al., 2010). In our work we are investigating the use of the wavelet packets for energy detection spectrum sensing operations based on the consideration that they have a finite duration and are self- and mutually-orthogonal at integer multiples of dyadic intervals. Hence, they are suitable for subband division and analysis: a generic signal can be then decomposed on the wavelet packet basis and represented as a collection of coefficients belonging to orthogonal subbands. Therefore, the total power of the signal can be evaluated as sum of the contributions of each subband, which can be separately computed in the wavelet domain. Furthermore, the wavelet packets can be used also for the feature detection spectrum sensing, using statistical parameters such as moments and medians. We concentrate in our research on both applications of the wavelet packets to the spectrum sensing operations, investigating their efficiency in terms of reliability and execution time, applied specifically to the needs of vehicular technology and transportation environments. The other key issue for the development of the previously mentioned standard is the choice of an adaptive/multicarrier modulation as basic candidate for data transmission, having as the most known representative the Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) modulation. OFDM-like schemes are mature enough to be chosen as a core technology for dynamic access wireless networks. At the same time, the potentialities in terms of optimization for this specific purpose are not yet thoroughly investigated. Particularly, the Wavelet Packet Division Multiplexing (WPDM) modulation method, already known for about ten years to the scientific community, is a suitable candidate to satisfy the requirements on physical level for a dynamic access network (Wong et al., 1997): WPDM has already proven to be able to overcome some of the OFDM limits (limited spectral efficiency, problems with temporal synchronization especially in channels affected by fading) and is at the same time based on use of the same wavelet packets employed for subband analysis used for spectrum sensing operations . Our research investigates the use of the WPDM for cognitive radio purposes, combined with the wavelet approach for spectrum sensing, for offering a complete, wavelet-based solution for cognitive application focused on the problematic of vehicular communication (channel impairments, high relative velocity of the communication peers etc.)

Evaluation of Overlay/underlay Waveform via SD-SMSE Framework for Enhancing Spectrum Efficiency

Recent studies have suggested that spectrum congestion is mainly due to the inefficient use of spectrum rather than its unavailability. Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) and Cognitive Radio (CR) are two terminologies which are used in the context of improved spectrum efficiency and usage. The DSA concept has been around for quite some time while the advent of CR has created a paradigm shift in wireless communications and instigated a change in FCC policy towards spectrum regulations. DSA can be broadly categorized as using a 1) Dynamic Exclusive Use Model, 2) Spectrum Commons or Open sharing model or 3) Hierarchical Access model. The hierarchical access model envisions primary licensed bands, to be opened up for secondary users, while inducing a minimum acceptable interference to primary users. Spectrum overlay and spectrum underlay technologies fall within the hierarchical model, and allow primary and secondary users to coexist while improving spectrum efficiency. Spectrum overlay in conjunction with the present CR model considers only the unused (white) spectral regions while in spectrum underlay the underused (gray) spectral regions are utilized. The underlay approach is similar to ultra wide band (UWB) and spread spectrum (SS) techniques utilize much wider spectrum and operate below the noise floor of primary users. Software defined radio (SDR) is considered a key CR enabling technology. Spectrally modulated, Spectrally encoded (SMSE) multi-carrier signals such as Orthogonal Frequency Domain Multiplexing (OFDM) and Multi-carrier Code Division Multiple Access (MCCDMA) are hailed as candidate CR waveforms. The SMSE structure supports and is well-suited for SDR based CR applications. This work began by developing a general soft decision (SD) CR framework, based on a previously developed SMSE framework that combines benefits of both the overlay and underlay techniques to improve spectrum efficiency and maximizing the channel capacity. The resultant SD-SMSE framework provides a user with considerable flexibility to choose overlay, underlay or hybrid overlay/underlay waveform depending on the scenario, situation or need. Overlay/Underlay SD-SMSE framework flexibility is demonstrated by applying it to a family of SMSE modulated signals such as OFDM, MCCDMA, Carrier Interferometry (CI) MCCDMA and Transform Domain Communication System (TDCS). Based on simulation results, a performance analysis of Overlay, Underlay and hybrid Overlay/Underlay waveforms are presented. Finally, the benefits of combining overlay/underlay techniques to improve spectrum efficiency and maximize channel capacity are addressed

Performance of a Spectrally Encoded Multi-carrier Phase Shift Keying Communications System in a Frequency-Selective, Slowly-Fading Multipath Channel

This research examines the performance of a spectrally encoded, multi-carrier, phase shift keying communications system in a frequency-selective, slowly-fading multipath channel. The specific communications system modeled is the transform domain communication system (TDCS) originally researched as an interference avoidance technique. Previous TDCS research assumed an additive white Gaussian noise channel, which is not representative of a realistic environment. This thesis presents overviews of previous TDCS research, the multipath fading channel, and the RAKE receiver. Analysis and Matlab simulations compare the performance of spectrally encoded and un-encoded signals through a multipath fading channel using an L-diversity TDCS RAKE receiver. Encoded signals take on the spectral shape of the multipath fading channel transfer function. Un-encoded signals have a flat magnitude spectrum. The research also evaluates the interference rejection capability of spectrally encoded signals in a multipath channel. Research results indicate for diversities ranging between 2 and 50, spectrally encoded signals need 1.0 to 2.75dB less transmitted normalized bit energy to noise power spectral density ratios to achieve the same probability of bit error as un-encoded signals. Results also demonstrate that spectrally encoded TDCS signals retain the interference rejection capability

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