Joint source channel coding for progressive image transmission

Recent wavelet-based image compression algorithms achieve best ever performances with fully embedded bit streams. However, those embedded bit streams are very sensitive to channel noise and protections from channel coding are necessary. Typical error correcting capability of channel codes varies according to different channel conditions. Thus, separate design leads to performance degradation relative to what could be achieved through joint design. In joint source-channel coding schemes, the choice of source coding parameters may vary over time and channel conditions. In this research, we proposed a general approach for the evaluation of such joint source-channel coding scheme. Instead of using the average peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) or distortion as the performance metric, we represent the system performance by its average error-free source coding rate, which is further shown to be an equivalent metric in the optimization problems. The transmissions of embedded image bit streams over memory channels and binary symmetric channels (BSCs) are investigated in this dissertation. Mathematical models were obtained in closed-form by error sequence analysis (ESA). Not surprisingly, models for BSCs are just special cases for those of memory channels. It is also discovered that existing techniques for performance evaluation on memory channels are special cases of this new approach. We further extend the idea to the unequal error protection (UEP) of embedded images sources in BSCs. The optimization problems are completely defined and solved. Compared to the equal error protection (EEP) schemes, about 0.3 dB performance gain is achieved by UEP for typical BSCs. For some memory channel conditions, the performance improvements can be up to 3 dB. Transmission of embedded image bit streams in channels with feedback are also investigated based on the model for memory channels. Compared to the best possible performance achieved on feed forward transmission, feedback leads to about 1.7 dB performance improvement

On Noisy ARQ in Block-Fading Channels

Assuming noisy feedback channels, this paper investigates the data transmission efficiency and robustness of different automatic repeat request (ARQ) schemes using adaptive power allocation. Considering different block-fading channel assumptions, the long-term throughput, the delay-limited throughput, the outage probability and the feedback load of different ARQ protocols are studied. A closed-form expression for the power-limited throughput optimization problem is obtained which is valid for different ARQ protocols and feedback channel conditions. Furthermore, the paper presents numerical investigations on the robustness of different ARQ protocols to feedback errors. It is shown that many analytical assertions about the ARQ protocols are valid both when the channel remains fixed during all retransmission rounds and when it changes in each round (in)dependently. As demonstrated, optimal power allocation is crucial for the performance of noisy ARQ schemes when the goal is to minimize the outage probability

Packet data communications over coded CDMA with hybrid type-II ARQ

This dissertation presents in-depth investigation of turbo-coded CDNIA systems in packet data communication terminology. It is divided into three parts; (1) CDMA with hybrid FEC/ARQ in deterministic environment, (2) CDMA with hybrid FEC/ARQ in random access environment and (3) an implementation issue on turbo decoding. As a preliminary, the performance of CDMA with hybrid FEC/ARQ is investigated in deterministic environment. It highlights the practically achievable spectral efficiency of CDMA system with turbo codes and the effect of code rates on the performance of systems with MF and LMMSE receivers, respectively. For given ensemble distance spectra of punctured turbo codes, an improved union bound is used to evaluate the error probability of ML turbo decoder with MF receiver and with LMMSE receiver front-end and, then, the corresponding spectral efficiency is computed as a function of system load. In the second part, a generalized analytical framework is first provided to analyze hybrid type-11 ARQ in random access environment. When applying hybrid type-11 ARQ, probability of packet success and packet length is generally different from attempt to attempt. Since the conventional analytical model, customarily employed for ALOHA system with pure or hybrid type-I ARQ, cannot be applied for this case, an expanded analytical model is introduced. It can be regarded as a network of queues and Jackson and Burke\u27s theorems can be applied to simplify the analysis. The second part is further divided into two sub topics, i.e. CDMA slotted ALOHA with hybrid type-11 ARQ using packet combining and CDMA unslotted ALOHA with hybrid type-11 ARQ using code combining. For code combining, the rate compatible punctured turbo (RCPT) codes are examined. In the third part, noticing that the decoding delay is crucial to the fast ARQ, a parallel MAP algorithm is proposed to reduce the computational decoding delay of turbo codes. It utilizes the forward and backward variables computed in the previous iteration to provide boundary distributions for each sub-block MAP decoder. It has at least two advantages over the existing parallel scheme; No performance degradation and No additional computation

Hybrid ARQ with parallel and serial concatenated convolutional codes for next generation wireless communications

This research focuses on evaluating the currently used FEC encoding-decoding schemes and improving the performance of error control systems by incorporating these schemes in a hybrid FEC-ARQ environment. Beginning with an overview of wireless communications and the various ARQ protocols, the thesis provides an in-depth explanation of convolutional encoding and Viterbi decoding, turbo (PCCC) and serial concatenated convolutional (SCCC) encoding with their respective MAP decoding strategies.;A type-II hybrid ARQ scheme with SCCCs is proposed for the first time and is a major contribution of this thesis. A vast improvement is seen in the BER performance of the successive individual FEC schemes discussed above. Also, very high throughputs can be achieved when these schemes are incorporated in an adaptive type-II hybrid ARQ system.;Finally, the thesis discusses the equivalence of the PCCCs and the SCCCs and proposes a technique to generate a hybrid code using both schemes

Time diversity solutions to cope with lost packets

A dissertation submitted to Departamento de Engenharia Electrotécnica of Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia of Universidade Nova de Lisboa in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Engenharia Electrotécnica e de ComputadoresModern broadband wireless systems require high throughputs and can also have very high Quality-of-Service (QoS) requirements, namely small error rates and short delays. A high spectral efficiency is needed to meet these requirements. Lost packets, either due to errors or collisions, are usually discarded and need to be retransmitted, leading to performance degradation. An alternative to simple retransmission that can improve both power and spectral efficiency is to combine the signals associated to different transmission attempts. This thesis analyses two time diversity approaches to cope with lost packets that are relatively similar at physical layer but handle different packet loss causes. The first is a lowcomplexity Diversity-Combining (DC) Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) scheme employed in a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) architecture, adapted for channels dedicated to a single user. The second is a Network-assisted Diversity Multiple Access (NDMA) scheme, which is a multi-packet detection approach able to separate multiple mobile terminals transmitting simultaneously in one slot using temporal diversity. This thesis combines these techniques with Single Carrier with Frequency Division Equalizer (SC-FDE) systems, which are widely recognized as the best candidates for the uplink of future broadband wireless systems. It proposes a new NDMA scheme capable of handling more Mobile Terminals (MTs) than the user separation capacity of the receiver. This thesis also proposes a set of analytical tools that can be used to analyse and optimize the use of these two systems. These tools are then employed to compare both approaches in terms of error rate, throughput and delay performances, and taking the implementation complexity into consideration. Finally, it is shown that both approaches represent viable solutions for future broadband wireless communications complementing each other.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - PhD grant(SFRH/BD/41515/2007); CTS multi-annual funding project PEst-OE/EEI/UI0066/2011, IT pluri-annual funding project PEst-OE/EEI/LA0008/2011, U-BOAT project PTDC/EEATEL/ 67066/2006, MPSat project PTDC/EEA-TEL/099074/2008 and OPPORTUNISTICCR project PTDC/EEA-TEL/115981/200