Transmission strategies for broadband wireless systems with MMSE turbo equalization

This monograph details efficient transmission strategies for single-carrier wireless broadband communication systems employing iterative (turbo) equalization. In particular, the first part focuses on the design and analysis of low complexity and robust MMSE-based turbo equalizers operating in the frequency domain. Accordingly, several novel receiver schemes are presented which improve the convergence properties and error performance over the existing turbo equalizers. The second part discusses concepts and algorithms that aim to increase the power and spectral efficiency of the communication system by efficiently exploiting the available resources at the transmitter side based upon the channel conditions. The challenging issue encountered in this context is how the transmission rate and power can be optimized, while a specific convergence constraint of the turbo equalizer is guaranteed.Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit dem Entwurf und der Analyse von effizienten Übertragungs-konzepten für drahtlose, breitbandige Einträger-Kommunikationssysteme mit iterativer (Turbo-) Entzerrung und Kanaldekodierung. Dies beinhaltet einerseits die Entwicklung von empfängerseitigen Frequenzbereichs-entzerrern mit geringer Komplexität basierend auf dem Prinzip der Soft Interference Cancellation Minimum-Mean Squared-Error (SC-MMSE) Filterung und andererseits den Entwurf von senderseitigen Algorithmen, die durch Ausnutzung von Kanalzustandsinformationen die Bandbreiten- und Leistungseffizienz in Ein- und Mehrnutzersystemen mit Mehrfachantennen (sog. Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO)) verbessern. Im ersten Teil dieser Arbeit wird ein allgemeiner Ansatz für Verfahren zur Turbo-Entzerrung nach dem Prinzip der linearen MMSE-Schätzung, der nichtlinearen MMSE-Schätzung sowie der kombinierten MMSE- und Maximum-a-Posteriori (MAP)-Schätzung vorgestellt. In diesem Zusammenhang werden zwei neue Empfängerkonzepte, die eine Steigerung der Leistungsfähigkeit und Verbesserung der Konvergenz in Bezug auf existierende SC-MMSE Turbo-Entzerrer in verschiedenen Kanalumgebungen erzielen, eingeführt. Der erste Empfänger - PDA SC-MMSE - stellt eine Kombination aus dem Probabilistic-Data-Association (PDA) Ansatz und dem bekannten SC-MMSE Entzerrer dar. Im Gegensatz zum SC-MMSE nutzt der PDA SC-MMSE eine interne Entscheidungsrückführung, so dass zur Unterdrückung von Interferenzen neben den a priori Informationen der Kanaldekodierung auch weiche Entscheidungen der vorherigen Detektions-schritte berücksichtigt werden. Durch die zusätzlich interne Entscheidungsrückführung erzielt der PDA SC-MMSE einen wesentlichen Gewinn an Performance in räumlich unkorrelierten MIMO-Kanälen gegenüber dem SC-MMSE, ohne dabei die Komplexität des Entzerrers wesentlich zu erhöhen. Der zweite Empfänger - hybrid SC-MMSE - bildet eine Verknüpfung von gruppenbasierter SC-MMSE Frequenzbereichsfilterung und MAP-Detektion. Dieser Empfänger besitzt eine skalierbare Berechnungskomplexität und weist eine hohe Robustheit gegenüber räumlichen Korrelationen in MIMO-Kanälen auf. Die numerischen Ergebnisse von Simulationen basierend auf Messungen mit einem Channel-Sounder in Mehrnutzerkanälen mit starken räumlichen Korrelationen zeigen eindrucksvoll die Überlegenheit des hybriden SC-MMSE-Ansatzes gegenüber dem konventionellen SC-MMSE-basiertem Empfänger. Im zweiten Teil wird der Einfluss von System- und Kanalmodellparametern auf die Konvergenzeigenschaften der vorgestellten iterativen Empfänger mit Hilfe sogenannter Korrelationsdiagramme untersucht. Durch semi-analytische Berechnungen der Entzerrer- und Kanaldecoder-Korrelationsfunktionen wird eine einfache Berechnungsvorschrift zur Vorhersage der Bitfehlerwahrscheinlichkeit von SC-MMSE und PDA SC-MMSE Turbo Entzerrern für MIMO-Fadingkanäle entwickelt. Des Weiteren werden zwei Fehlerschranken für die Ausfallwahrscheinlichkeit der Empfänger vorgestellt. Die semi-analytische Methode und die abgeleiteten Fehlerschranken ermöglichen eine aufwandsgeringe Abschätzung sowie Optimierung der Leistungsfähigkeit des iterativen Systems. Im dritten und abschließenden Teil werden Strategien zur Raten- und Leistungszuweisung in Kommunikationssystemen mit konventionellen iterativen SC-MMSE Empfängern untersucht. Zunächst wird das Problem der Maximierung der instantanen Summendatenrate unter der Berücksichtigung der Konvergenz des iterativen Empfängers für einen Zweinutzerkanal mit fester Leistungsallokation betrachtet. Mit Hilfe des Flächentheorems von Extrinsic-Information-Transfer (EXIT)-Funktionen wird eine obere Schranke für die erreichbare Ratenregion hergeleitet. Auf Grundlage dieser Schranke wird ein einfacher Algorithmus entwickelt, der für jeden Nutzer aus einer Menge von vorgegebenen Kanalcodes mit verschiedenen Codierraten denjenigen auswählt, der den instantanen Datendurchsatz des Mehrnutzersystems verbessert. Neben der instantanen Ratenzuweisung wird auch ein ausfallbasierter Ansatz zur Ratenzuweisung entwickelt. Hierbei erfolgt die Auswahl der Kanalcodes für die Nutzer unter Berücksichtigung der Einhaltung einer bestimmten Ausfallwahrscheinlichkeit (outage probability) des iterativen Empfängers. Des Weiteren wird ein neues Entwurfskriterium für irreguläre Faltungscodes hergeleitet, das die Ausfallwahrscheinlichkeit von Turbo SC-MMSE Systemen verringert und somit die Zuverlässigkeit der Datenübertragung erhöht. Eine Reihe von Simulationsergebnissen von Kapazitäts- und Durchsatzberechnungen werden vorgestellt, die die Wirksamkeit der vorgeschlagenen Algorithmen und Optimierungsverfahren in Mehrnutzerkanälen belegen. Abschließend werden außerdem verschiedene Maßnahmen zur Minimierung der Sendeleistung in Einnutzersystemen mit senderseitiger Singular-Value-Decomposition (SVD)-basierter Vorcodierung untersucht. Es wird gezeigt, dass eine Methode, welche die Leistungspegel des Senders hinsichtlich der Bitfehlerrate des iterativen Empfängers optimiert, den konventionellen Verfahren zur Leistungszuweisung überlegen ist

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

New OFDM schemes based on orthogonal transforms for mobile communications systems :

PhD ThesisIn this thesis, two new orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems are presented. The first scheme proposes a new OFDM system transceiver based on the C-transform, which is termed C-OFDM. Over multipath channels, the C-OFDM achieves 10 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) gain at 10−4 bit-error-rate (BER), in comparison to the OFDM that based on the is discrete cosine transform (DCT-OFDM) and the conventional OFDM schemes. It also reduces the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of the OFDM signal by about 1 dB and in some cases up to 3 dB. In the second scheme, a new fast, orthogonal X-transform is produced. The proposed X-transform is then used in a new OFDM named X-OFDM to greatly reduce the complexity, the PAPR and the BER. The proposed scheme achieves around 15 dB SNR gain in comparison to the conventional OFDM at 10−4 BER and reduces the average PAPR (over 105 OFDM symbol) by about 6 dB for N =1024 subcarriers. Furthermore, in this study, the X-transform is utilized to produce a new Alamouti space-time OFDM (ST-OFDM). The proposed ST-X-OFDM scheme reduces the transmitter complexity and achieves important SNR gain over the conventional ST-OFDM systems. The BER performance of the proposed schemes in the presence of solid-state power amplifiers (SSPAs) is also investigated analytically and by simulation. It shows that the X-OFDM is resilient to the SSPAs nonlinear distortion whereas the C-OFDM may lead to BER impairment in the presence of the SSPA. Furthermore, a coding technique to mitigate the sensitivity of the COFDM scheme to the SSPA is also proposed in this study. In this research, mathematical models for the proposed C-OFDM, XOFDM and ST-X-OFDM, which tightly match the simulation results over a diverse range of transmission scenarios and mapping schemes, are also derived. In addition, the BER performance of the proposed COFDM and X-OFDM schemes in the presence of the carrier frequency offset (CFO), with and without frequency synchronization algorithm, are also investigated. The proposed C-OFDM and X-OFDM schemes are more sensitive to the CFO than the conventional schemes. However, when frequency synchronization algorithm is used, both the proposed schemes retain their significant BER improvement in comparison to the conventional schemes.Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHSR), Iraq and to the Iraqi cultural attach- London for supporting me financially during my study in England

MIMO equalization.

Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2005.In recent years, space-time block co'des (STBC) for multi-antenna wireless systems have emerged as attractive encoding schemes for wireless communications. These codes provide full diversity gain and achieve good performance with simple receiver structures without the additional increase in bandwidth or power requirements. When implemented over broadband channels, STBCs can be combined with orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) or single carrier frequency domain (SC-FD) transmission schemes to achieve multi-path diversity and to decouple the broadband frequency selective channel into independent flat fading channels. This dissertation focuses on the SC-FD transmission schemes that exploit the STBC structure to provide computationally cost efficient receivers in terms of equalization and channel estimation. The main contributions in this dissertation are as follows: • The original SC-FD STBC receiver that bench marks STBC in a frequency selective channel is limited to coherent detection where the knowledge of the channel state information (CSI) is assumed at the receiver. We extend this receiver to a multiple access system. Through analysis and simulations we prove that the extended system does not incur any performance penalty. This key result implies that the SC-FD STBC scheme is suitable for multiple-user systems where higher data rates are possible. • The problem of channel estimation is considered in a time and frequency selective environment. The existing receiver is based on a recursive least squares (RLS) adaptive algorithm and provides joint equalization and interference suppression. We utilize a system with perfect channel state information (CSI) to show from simulations how various design parameters for the RLS algorithm can be selected in order to get near perfect CSI performance. • The RLS receiver has two modes of operation viz. training mode and direct decision mode. In training mode, a block of known symbols is used to make the initial estimate. To ensure convergence of the algorithm a re-training interval must be predefined. This results in an increase in the system overhead. A linear predictor that utilizes the knowled~e of the autocorrelation function for a Rayleigh fading channel is developed. The predictor is combined with. the adaptive receiver to provide a bandwidth efficient receiver by decreasing the training block size.· The simulation results show that the performance penalty for the new system is negligible. • Finally, a new Q-R based receiver is developed to provide a more robust solution to the RLS adaptive receiver. The simulation results clearly show that the new receiver outperforms the RLS based receiver at higher Doppler frequencies, where rapid channel variations result in numerical instability of the RLS algorithm. The linear predictor is also added to the new receiver which results in a more robust and bandwidth efficient receiver

Frequency domain equalization space-time block-coded CDMA transmission system

Abstract In this work we propose a space-time block-coded (STBF) CDMA transmission system suitable for use with frequency domain equalization (FDE) algorithms. We illustrate the FDE by implementing the maximal ratio combining, the zero forcing and the minimum mean squared error single user detection algorithms. A diversity gain analysis is developed and some interesting results are pointed out. It is shown through computer simulations that the proposed transmission system exhibits good performance in terms of bit error rate when compared to previously proposed STBC CDMA transmission systems.</p

Channel estimation in massive MIMO systems

Last years were characterized by a great demand for high data throughput, good quality and spectral efficiency in wireless communication systems. Consequently, a revolution in cellular networks has been set in motion towards to 5G. Massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) is one of the new concepts in 5G and the idea is to scale up the known MIMO systems in unprecedented proportions, by deploying hundreds of antennas at base stations. Although, perfect channel knowledge is crucial in these systems for user and data stream separation in order to cancel interference. The most common way to estimate the channel is based on pilots. However, problems such as interference and pilot contamination (PC) can arise due to the multiplicity of channels in the wireless link. Therefore, it is crucial to define techniques for channel estimation that together with pilot contamination mitigation allow best system performance and at same time low complexity. This work introduces a low-complexity channel estimation technique based on Zadoff-Chu training sequences. In addition, different approaches were studied towards pilot contamination mitigation and low complexity schemes, with resort to iterative channel estimation methods, semi-blind subspace tracking techniques and matrix inversion substitutes. System performance simulations were performed for the several proposed techniques in order to identify the best tradeoff between complexity, spectral efficiency and system performance

Técnicas de equalização e pré-codificação para sistemas MC-CDMA

Mestrado em Engenharia Eletrónica e TelecomunicaçõesO número de dispositivos com ligações e aplicações sem fios está a aumentar exponencialmente, causando problemas de interferência e diminuindo a capacidade do sistema. Isto desencadeou uma procura por uma eficiência espectral superior e, consequentemente, tornou-se necessário desenvolver novas arquitecturas celulares que suportem estas novas exigências. Coordenação ou cooperação multicelular é uma arquitectura promissora para sistemas celulares sem fios. Esta ajuda a mitigar a interferência entre células, melhorando a equidade e a capacidade do sistema. É, portanto, uma arquitectura já em estudo ao abrigo da tecnologia LTE-Advanced sob o conceito de coordenação multiponto (CoMP). Nesta dissertação, considerámos um sistema coordenado MC-CDMA com pré-codificação e equalização iterativas. Uma das técnicas mais eficientes de pré-codificação é o alinhamento de interferências (IA). Este é um conceito relativamente novo que permite aumentar a capacidade do sistema em canais de elevada interferência. Sabe-se que, para os sistemas MC-CDMA, os equalizadores lineares convencionais não são os mais eficientes, devido à interferência residual entre portadoras (ICI). No entanto, a equalização iterativa no domínio da frequência (FDE) foi identificada como sendo uma das técnicas mais eficientes para lidar com ICI e explorar a diversidade oferecida pelos sistemas MIMO MC-CDMA. Esta técnica é baseada no conceito Iterative Block Decision Feedback Equalization (IB-DFE). Nesta dissertação, é proposto um sistema MC-CDMA que une a pré-codificação iterativa do alinhamento de interferências no transmissor ao equalizador baseado no IB-DFE, com cancelamento sucessivo de interferências (SIC) no receptor. Este é construído por dois blocos: um filtro linear, que mitiga a interferência inter-utilizador, seguido por um bloco iterativo no domínio da frequência, que separa eficientemente os fluxos de dados espaciais na presença de interferência residual inter-utilizador alinhada. Este esquema permite atingir o número máximo de graus de liberdade e permite simultaneamente um ganho óptimo de diversidade espacial. O desempenho deste esquema está perto do filtro adaptado- Matched Filter Bound (MFB).The number of devices with wireless connections and applications is increasing exponentially, causing interference problems and reducing the system’s capacity gain. This initiated a search for a higher spectral efficiency and therefore it became necessary to develop new cellular architectures that support these new requirements. Multicell cooperation or coordination is a promising architecture for cellular wireless systems to mitigate intercell interference, improving system fairness and increasing capacity, and thus is already under study in LTE-Advanced under the coordinated multipoint (CoMP) concept. In this thesis, efficient iterative precoding and equalization is considered for coordinated MC-CDMA based systems. One of the most efficient precoding techniques is interference alignment (IA), which is a relatively new concept that allows high capacity gains in interfering channels. It is well known that for MC-CDMA systems standard linear equalizers are not the most efficient due to residual inter carrier interference (ICI). However, iterative frequency-domain equalization (FDE) has been identified as one of the most efficient technique to deal with ICI and exploit the inherent space-frequency diversity of the MIMO MC-CDMA systems, namely the one based on Iterative Block Decision Feedback Equalization (IB-DFE) concept. In this thesis, it is proposed a MC-CDMA system that joins iterative IA precoding at the transmitter with IB-DFE successive interference cancellation (SIC) based receiver structure. The receiver is implemented in two steps: a linear filter, which mitigates the inter-user aligned interference, followed by an iterative frequency-domain receiver, which efficiently separates the spatial streams in the presence of residual inter-user aligned interference. This scheme provides the maximum degrees of freedom (DoF) and allows almost the optimum space-diversity gain. The scheme performance is close to the matched filter bound (MFB)

Waveform Advancements and Synchronization Techniques for Generalized Frequency Division Multiplexing

To enable a new level of connectivity among machines as well as between people and machines, future wireless applications will demand higher requirements on data rates, response time, and reliability from the communication system. This will lead to a different system design, comprising a wide range of deployment scenarios. One important aspect is the evolution of physical layer (PHY), specifically the waveform modulation. The novel generalized frequency division multiplexing (GFDM) technique is a prominent proposal for a flexible block filtered multicarrier modulation. This thesis introduces an advanced GFDM concept that enables the emulation of other prominent waveform candidates in scenarios where they perform best. Hence, a unique modulation framework is presented that is capable of addressing a wide range of scenarios and to upgrade the PHY for 5G networks. In particular, for a subset of system parameters of the modulation framework, the problem of symbol time offset (STO) and carrier frequency offset (CFO) estimation is investigated and synchronization approaches, which can operate in burst and continuous transmissions, are designed. The first part of this work presents the modulation principles of prominent 5G candidate waveforms and then focuses on the GFDM basic and advanced attributes. The GFDM concept is extended towards the use of OQAM, introducing the novel frequency-shift OQAM-GFDM, and a new low complexity model based on signal processing carried out in the time domain. A new prototype filter proposal highlights the benefits obtained in terms of a reduced out-of-band (OOB) radiation and more attractive hardware implementation cost. With proper parameterization of the advanced GFDM, the achieved gains are applicable to other filtered OFDM waveforms. In the second part, a search approach for estimating STO and CFO in GFDM is evaluated. A self-interference metric is proposed to quantify the effective SNR penalty caused by the residual time and frequency misalignment or intrinsic inter-symbol interference (ISI) and inter-carrier interference (ICI) for arbitrary pulse shape design in GFDM. In particular, the ICI can be used as a non-data aided approach for frequency estimation. Then, GFDM training sequences, defined either as an isolated preamble or embedded as a midamble or pseudo-circular pre/post-amble, are designed. Simulations show better OOB emission and good estimation results, either comparable or superior, to state-of-the-art OFDM system in wireless channels

Single- versus Multi-Carrier Terahertz-Band Communications: A Comparative Study

The prospects of utilizing single-carrier (SC) and multi-carrier (MC) waveforms in future terahertz (THz)-band communication systems remain unresolved. On the one hand, the limited multi-path components at high frequencies result in frequency-flat channels that favor low-complexity wideband SC systems. On the other hand, frequency-dependent molecular absorption and transceiver characteristics and the existence of multi-path components in indoor sub-THz systems can still result in frequency-selective channels, favoring off-the-shelf MC schemes such as orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM). Variations of SC/MC designs result in different THz spectrum utilization, but spectral efficiency is not the primary concern with substantial available bandwidths; baseband complexity, power efficiency, and hardware impairment constraints are predominant. This paper presents a comprehensive study of SC/MC modulations for THz communications, utilizing an accurate wideband THz channel model and highlighting the various performance and complexity trade-offs of the candidate schemes. Simulations demonstrate that discrete-Fourier-transform spread orthogonal time-frequency space (DFT-s-OTFS) achieves a lower peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) than OFDM and OTFS and enhances immunity to THz impairments and Doppler spreads, but at an increased complexity cost. Moreover, DFT-s-OFDM is a promising candidate that increases robustness to THz impairments and phase noise (PHN) at a low PAPR and overall complexity.Comment: 18 pages, 12 figures, journa