Blind equalization of DS-CDMA and MC-CDMA modulations in time-variant frequency selective channels

The paper addresses the blind equalization problem of spread spectrum modulations in the presence of fast time-variant frequency-selective channels. The basic assumption of the paper is that the channel response exhibits fast changes. A second goal of the paper is to force the definition of a universal CDMA blind equalization scheme that is capable of performing for DS-CDMA or multi-carrier CDMA signal modulations without any modification in the equalizer. The formulation of the equalization scheme allows the consideration of temporal and/or spatial diversity front-end receivers. The result is a high-performance system that uses a deterministic blind criterion to equalize the channel, avoiding the use of stochastic methods. The proposed technique performs direct channel equalization without previous channel estimation. Although the proposed equalizer in this work performs equalization at chip rate, this paper suggests a solution to achieve equalization at lower rates.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Conditional maximum likelihood timing recovery

The conditional maximum likelihood (CML) principle, well known in the context of sensor array processing, is applied to the problem of timing recovery. A new self-noise free CML-based timing error detector is derived. Additionally, a new (conditional) Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) for timing estimation is obtained, which is more accurate than the extensively used modified CRB (MCRB).Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

New bounds on RAKE structures for DS-CDMA over frequency-selective Rayleigh fading channels

An upper bound is derived for the probability of error in an asynchronous binary direct-sequence spread-spectrum multiple-access communications system operating over frequency selective Rayleigh fading channels. A coherent RAKE receiver with predetection selective diversity combining is considered. The performance of a multipath-combining receiver is determined for the case of multiple interfering transmitters. Furthermore, the performance of the system is determined in terms of parameters of the signature sequences. These parameters can be used as guides in selecting sequences for the system. The bounds agree with the exponential portion of a normal distribution in which the interfering interference components subtract from the signal amplitude. The results obtained are verified by simulation.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Non-data-aided frequency offset and symbol timing estimation for binary CPM: performance bounds

The use of (spectrally efficient) CPM modulations may lead to a serious performance degradation of the classical non-data-aided (NDA) frequency and timing estimators due to the presence of self noise. The actual performance of these estimators is usually much worse than that predicted by the classical modified Cramer-Rao bound. We apply some well known results in the field of signal processing to these two important problems of synchronization. In particular we propose and explain the meaning of the unconditional CRB in the synchronization task. Simulation results for MSK and GMSK, along with the performance of some classical and previously proposed synchronizers, show that the proposed bound (along with the MCRB) is useful for a better prediction of the ultimate performance of the NDA estimators.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Multichannel receivers from ofdm and tdma in mobile communications

This paper addresses the use of multichannel receivers for blind equalization in TDMA under frequency selective channels and OFDM systems in frequency flat fading channels. A new criteria is proposed for blind equalization of finite length mobile channels.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Diversity techniques for blind channel equalization in mobile communications

A blind algorithm for channel distortion compensation is presented which can be employed in spatial or temporal diversity receivers. The proposed technique can be used in frequency selective and frequency flat fading mobile channels, using burst transmission schemes in the first case and OFDM modulation in the second one. The algorithm is base on a deterministic criteria and is suited for estimation when short sets of data are available.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Transform modulations for mobile communications

A new modulation scheme called transform modulations is proposed which improves the system performance in frequency-flat fading mobile channels. They ameliorate the effect of the fadings over the transmitted signal by spreading the information in time, using a linear transform operator. The design of this scheme is discussed and its advantages are shown by means of simulations. The relationship of this scheme with OFDM modulation is also analyzed.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Robust beamforming for interference rejection in mobile communications

The problem of robust beamformer design in the presence of moving sources is considered. A new technique based on a generalization of the constrained minimum variance beamformer is proposed. The method explicitly takes into account changes in the scenario due to the movement of the desired and interfering sources, requiring only estimation of the desired DOA. Computer simulations show that the resulting performance constitutes a compromise between interference and noise rejection, computational complexity, and sensitivity to source movement.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Near-far resistant CML propagation delay estimation and multi-user detection for asynchronous DS-CDMA systems

Multi-user receivers in asynchronous direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) systems require the knowledge of several parameters such as timing delay between users. The goal of this work is to present a near-far resistant joint multi-user synchronization and detection algorithm for DS-CDMA systems. The solution is based on the conditional maximum likelihood (CML) estimation method (classically used in the context of sensor array processing) that leads to a fast convergence algorithm to estimate the time delays among users. At the same time the estimator implements the decorrelating detector, identifying the transmitted symbols for the different users.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Redundancy in block coded modulations for channel equalization based on spatial and temporal diversity

Linear block codes in the complex field can be applied in spatial and/or temporal diversity receivers in order to develop high performance schemes for (almost-) blind equalization in mobile communications. The proposed technique uses the structure of the encoded transmitted information (with redundancy) to achieve equalization schemes based on a deterministic criterion. Simulations show that the proposed technique is more efficient than other schemes that follow similar equalizer structures. The result is an algorithm that provides the design of channel equalizers in low EbNo scenarios.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version