Digital Processing for an Analogue Subcarrier Multiplexed Mobile Fronthaul

In order to meet the demands of the fifth generation of mobile communication networks (5G), such as very high bit-rates, very low latency and massive machine connectivity, there is a need for a flexible, dynamic, scalable and versatile mobile fronthaul. Current industry fronthaul standards employing sampled radio waveforms for digital transport suffer from spectral inefficiency, making this type of transport impractical for the wide channel bandwidths and multi-antenna systems required by 5G. On the other hand, analogue transport does not suffer from these limitations. It is, however, prone to noise, non-linearity and poor dynamic range. When combined with analogue domain signal aggregation/multiplexing, it also lacks flexibility and scalability, especially at millimetre wave frequencies. Measurements (matched in simulation) of analogue transport at millimetre wave frequencies demonstrate some of these issues. High data rates are demonstrated employing wide bandwidth channels combined using traditional subcarrier multiplexing techniques. However, only a limited number of channels can be multiplexed in this manner, with poor spectral efficiency, as analogue filter limitations do not allow narrow gaps between channels. To this end, over the last few years, there has been significant investigation of analogue transport schemes combined with digital channel aggregation/ de-aggregation (combining/ separating multiple radio waveforms in the digital domain). This work explores such a technique. Digital processing is used at the transmitter to flexibly multiplex a large number of channels in a subcarrier multiplex, without the use of combiners, mixers/ up-converters or Hilbert transforms. Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) - derived Discrete Multi-Tone (DMT) and Single Sideband (SSB) modulated channels are integrated within a single Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) operation. Channels or channel groups are mapped systematically into Nyquist zones by using, for example, a single IFFT (for a single 5G mobile numerology) or multiple IFFTs (for multiple 5G mobile numerologies). The analogue transport signal generated in this manner is digitally filtered and band-pass sampled at the receiver such that each corresponding channel (e.g. channels destined to the same radio frequency (RF)/ millimetre wave (mmW) frequency) in the multiplex is presented at the same intermediate frequency, due to the mapping employed at the transmitter. Analogue or digital domain mixers/ down-converters are not required with this technique. Furthermore, each corresponding channel can be readily up-converted to their respective RF/mmW channels with minimal per-signal processing. Measurement results, matched in simulation, for large signal multiplexes with both generic and 5G mobile numerologies show error-vector magnitude performance well within specifications, validating the proposed system. For even larger multiplexes and/or multiplexes residing on a higher IF exceeding the analogue bandwidth and sampling rate specifications of the ADCs at the receiver, the use of a bandwidth-extension device is proposed to extend the mapping to a mapping hierarchy and relax the analogue bandwidth and sampling rate requirements of the ADCs. This allows the receiver to still use digital processing, with only minimal analogue processing, to band-pass sample smaller blocks of channels from the larger multiplex, down to the same intermediate frequency. This ensures that each block of channels is within the analogue bandwidth specification of the ADCs. Performance predictions via simulation (based on a system model matched to the measurements) show promising results for very large multiplexes and large channel bandwidths. The multiplexing technique presented in this work thus allows reductions in per-channel processing for heterogeneous networking (or multi-radio access technologies) and multi-antenna configurations. It also creates a re-configurable and adaptable system based on available processing resources, irrespective of changes to the number of channels and channel groups, channel bandwidths and modulation formats

The Structural Model of Social Well-being in workplace based on Bright-side Personality, Dark Triad and Collectivism Culture,Considering the Mediating Role of Social Influence

Introduction: Social well-being is one of three employee well-being dimensions and the missed piece of subjective well-being literature. The purpose of current research was modeling the social well-being in workplace, based on person-situation model and social exchange theory. This mediated-moderated structural model is developed considering the interactive role of bright and dark triad and collectivism organizational culture, besides mediation role of social influence tactics.Method: Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used for analyzing this second-order hierarchical latent variable model. Participants were 292 employees of Iran National oil Company in the summer of 1398.Results: Fitness indices indicates the good fitness of social-wellbeing model (SRMR<0.08, NFI>0.9). Results showed that bright side of personality and collectivism organizational culture affect social well-being directly. In addition, findings showed that dark triad influences on social well-being is fully mediated by social influence tactics; so that Machiavellianism and narcissism increase the social well-being levels by influencing soft influence tactics utilization; Whereas psychopathy leads to applying hard influence tactics and cause social well-being reduction. Moderating effect of collectivism organizational culture on bright side of personality and social well-being was confirmed as well.Conclusion: Overall findings indicate that personality factors are important determinants of social well-being, but understanding the social well-being construct in workplace requires including the whole image of bright and dark side of personality, as well as organization cultural factors

The new flexible mobile fronthaul: Digital or analog, or both?

It has become apparent that current fronthaul technology cannot be simply extended to meet the projected demands of 5G and beyond mobile systems. This current technology, based on the transport of sampled radio waveforms, has been the preferred option, with analog radio over fiber reserved to relatively niche application scenarios. However, for future systems, it is recognised that different functional splits between the central location and the remote units are needed; sampled waveform transport is not scalable to these systems. We propose a flexible fronthaul, therefore, in which both digital and analog transport technologies can coexist. Using practical examples from our work, we describe where these technologies can be used in the future fronthaul

A Flexible Subcarrier Multiplexing System with Analog Transport and Digital Processing for 5G (and beyond) Fronthaul

A flexible subcarrier multiplexing system combining analog transport with digital domain processing is presented. By making use of band-pass sampling and applying a systematic mapping of signals into available Nyquist zones, the multiplexing system is able to present multiple signals at the same intermediate frequency at the remote site. This simplifies the processing required for multiple antenna systems. We further propose the use of track-and-hold amplifiers at the remote site. These elements are used to extend the mapping to a mapping hierarchy, offering flexibility in frequency placement of signals and relaxation of analog-to-digital converter bandwidth and sampling rate constraints. The system allows the transport of different numerologies in a number of next generation radio access network scenarios. Experimental results for large signal multiplexes with both generic and 5th-generation mobile numerologies show error-vector magnitude performance well within specifications, validating the proposed system. Simulation results from a system model matched to these experimental results provide performance predictions for larger signal multiplexes and larger bandwidths

A novel mobile web application for an integrated medical and emergency model

The current situation of medical, healthcare and emergency related system in Malaysia shows that it is mostly separated and not fully computerized. The fully computerizing and combining of medical healthcare and emergency systems will lead to produce a Novel Integrated Medical and Emergency system. This integrated system is being divided into three main parts which is the web based medical and emergency system, intelligent agent, and mobility. The system contains a database that will communicate and cooperated with intelligent agent and mobility. The main drawbacks for the current medical, healthcare, and emergency systems in Malaysia include: Difficulty in searching and reviewing up to date records for patient, doctor, hospital, drug, etc since many of such records are still kept in filing cabinet

Comparison of Digital Signal Processing Approaches for Subcarrier Multiplexed 5G and Beyond Analog Fronthaul

Analog fronthaul transport architectures with digital signal processing at the end stations are promising as they have the potential to achieve high spectral efficiencies, increased flexibility and reduced latency. In this paper, two digital techniques for frequency domain multiplexing/de-multiplexing large numbers of channels are contrasted: one operates on the pre-Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) “frequency-domain” samples while the other does so on the post-IFFT “time-domain” samples. Performance criteria including computational complexity and sampling rate requirements are used in the comparison. Following modeling and simulation of the techniques, implemented within a radio-over-fiber transport architecture, error vector magnitude performance estimates are obtained. These results show that each technique has performance advantages under specific channel transport scenarios

Support of Multi-antenna and Multi-user Systems Using Radio Over Fiber

Analog radio-over-fiber can efficiently support multi-antenna and multi-user techniques for future mobile communications. Experimental results demonstrate that the wider antenna separation that can be provided enhances multi-antenna scheme performance

Experimental comparison of E-band BDFA and Raman amplifier performance over 50 km G.652.D fiber using 30 GBaud DP-16-QAM and DP-64-QAM signals

We compare the performance of three optical amplifiers in the E-band: a bismuth-doped fiber amplifier (BDFA), a distributed Raman amplifier, and a discrete Raman amplifier (RA). Data transmission performance of 30 GBaud DP-16QAM and DP-64-QAM signals transmitted over 50 km of G.652.D fiber is compared in terms of achieved signal-to-noise (SNR). In this specific case of relatively short distance, single-span transmission, the BDFA outperforms the distributed and discrete Raman amplifiers due to the impact of fiber nonlinear penalties at high input signal powers

Flexible and Efficient DSP-assisted Subcarrier Multiplexing for an Analog Mobile Fronthaul

The digital formation of an analog subcarrier multiplex employing in combination both a technique using pre-IFFT frequency-domain samples and one using post-IFFT time-domain samples is proposed and demonstrated. This combined technique enables a compromise for sampling rate requirements, while maintaining low complexity and good performance