Exploit Time Diversity Research Articles

Subspace-Based Estimation of Rapidly Varying Mobile Channels for OFDM Systems

It is well-known that time-varying channels can provide time diversity and improve error rate performance compared to time-invariant fading channels. However, exploiting time diversity requires very accurate channel estimates at the receiver. In order to reduce the number of unknown channel coefficients while estimating the time-varying channel, basis expansion models can be used along with long transmission frames that contain multiple orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols that experience the channel variation. The design of these OFDM frames need to judiciously incorporate training and data insertions in the transmitted signal while maintaining orthogonality. In this work, we propose an inter channel interference (ICI)-free training model depending on pilot symbols only and provide a corresponding time-varying channel estimation method. This scheme relies on an algorithm to determine the number of OFDM symbols per frame and the number of basis functions per path with minimal information about the Doppler bandwidth. As a performance benchmark, Bayesian Cramer Rao lower bound (CRLB) and the corresponding MSE bound are derived analytically for the proposed training model. Theoretical MSE expressions of the proposed estimation scheme are also derived as well as the MSE expressions in the presence of Doppler frequency mismatch. Simulations exhibit substantial MSE improvement and the corresponding Symbol Error Rate (SER) performances of the low complexity estimation scheme. They also corroborate that, unlike the common results in the literature, an OFDM system can perform better as the Doppler frequency increases with judicious design of training and channel estimation schemes.

Hybrid Coded Replication in LoRa Networks

Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) are wireless connectivity solutions for Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications, including industrial automation. Among the several LPWAN technologies, LoRaWAN has been extensively addressed by the research community and the industry. However, the reliability and scalability of LoRaWAN are still uncertain. One of the techniques to increase the reliability of LoRaWAN is message replication, which exploits time diversity. This paper proposes a novel hybrid coded message replication scheme that interleaves simple repetition and a recently proposed coded replication method. We analyze the optimization of the proposed scheme under minimum reliability requirements and show that it enhances the network performance without requiring additional transmit power compared to the competing replication techniques.

Enhancing Signal Detection in Frequency Selective Channels by Exploiting Time Diversity in Inter-symbol Interference Signal

Inter-symbol interference (ISI) causes many errors in modulated symbols, when they are transmitted through band-limited channels. According to the multipath delay profile of the channel, the modulated symbol may disperse over more than one symbol period casing interferences among the received symbols. In this paper, the ISI signal is not considered as a problem, but it is exploited as a source of time diversity for the modulated symbols. The ISI signal is considered as if the modulated symbols are transmitted more than one time through different symbols periods. The number of periods over which the modulated symbol extends, represents the time diversity gain of the proposed system. In the proposed receiver, the interfering symbols are considered as symbols from different users. A multiuser detector is used to demodulate these interfering symbols. Moreover, a signal combiner is used to collect the detected symbol from the output of the multiuser detector through the dispersion period of the channel. The output of the combiner represents the decision variable to the baseband detector. The diversity gain in the decision variable in the proposed receiver is proportional to the dispersion period of the channel.

Energy-Latency Tradeoff in Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication With Retransmissions

High-fidelity, real-time interactive applications are envisioned with the emergence of the Internet of Things and tactile Internet by means of ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC). Exploiting time diversity for fulfilling the URLLC requirements in an energy efficient manner is a challenging task due to the nontrivial interplay among packet size, retransmission rounds and delay, and transmit power. In this paper, we study the fundamental energy-latency tradeoff in URLLC systems employing incremental redundancy (IR) hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ). We cast the average energy minimization problem with a finite blocklength (latency) constraint and feedback delay, which is non-convex. We propose a dynamic programming algorithm for energy efficient IR-HARQ optimization in terms of number of retransmissions, blocklength, and power per round. Numerical results show that our IR-HARQ approach could provide around 25% energy saving compared with one-shot transmission (no HARQ).

A survey and comparison of multichannel protocols for performance anomaly mitigation in IEEE 802.11wireless networks

SUMMARYProviding multichannel functionality can improve the performance of wireless networks. Although off‐the‐shelf IEEE 802.11 physical layer and medium access control specifications support multiple channels and multiple data rates, one of the major challenges is how to efficiently utilize available channels and data rates to improve network performance. In multirate networks, low‐rate links severely degrade the capacity of high‐rate links, which is known as performance anomaly. To overcome the performance anomaly problem, different data rate links can get equal air‐time by exploiting time diversity and frequency diversity, or they can be separated over nonoverlapping channels. In this paper, we study existing multichannel protocols proposed to mitigate the performance anomaly problem by classifying them into single‐radio protocols, multiradio single‐hop protocols, and multiradio multihop protocols. To investigate the effectiveness of multichannel solutions for performance anomaly, we compare these protocols with well‐known multichannel protocols that do not consider performance anomaly. In addition, this paper gives insightful research issues to design multichannel protocols that mitigate performance anomaly in IEEE 802.11 wireless networks. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Chip‐interleaving direct sequence spread spectrum system over Rician multipath fading channels

ABSTRACTChip interleaving (CI) is a unique technique to exploit time diversity in direct sequence spread spectrum (DS/SS)‐based systems operating in fading environments. In order to facilitate design of CI systems in various fading situations, we present a performance analysis for CI DS/SS system over Rician multipath time‐varying fading channels. We derive the analytical bit error rate (BER) expression for CI DS/SS to allow fast and accurate evaluation of BER performance based on the interleaving depth selected, spreading codes employed, and the time correlation function of the channel. We then discuss some ideal cases by using the analytical results to reveal some of the insights presented in the performance analysis. For the purpose of comparison, we also obtain the BER expression for conventional DS/SS system as a special case of CI system with an interleaving depth of one. Using numerical examples, we verify the analytical results with computer simulations and illustrate the BER performance behavior of CI DS/SS system with varying interleaving depth for all possible combinations of two sets of spreading codes of different type and two different time correlation functions of the channel. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A Multiple Antenna Spectrum Sensing Scheme Based on Space and Time Diversity in Cognitive Radios

Multiple antenna is introduced into spectrum sensing in cognitive radios recently. However, conventional multiple antenna spectrum sensing schemes exploited only space diversity. In this paper, we propose a new multiple antenna sensing scheme based on space and time diversity (MASS-BSTD). First, the primary user signal to be sensed is over-sampled at each antenna, and signal samples collected at the same time instant from different antennas are stacked into a column vector. Second, each column vector is utilized to estimate space correlation matrix that exploits space diversity, and two consecutive column vectors are utilized to estimate time correlation matrix that exploits time diversity. Third, the estimated space correlation matrix and time correlation matrix are combined and analyzed using eigenvalue decomposition to reduce information redundancy of signals from multiple antennas. Lastly, the derived eigenvalues are utilized to construct the test statistic and sense the presence of the primary user signal. Since the proposed MASS-BSTD exploits both space diversity and time diversity, it achieves performance gain over the counterparts that only exploit space diversity. Furthermore, the proposed MASS-BSTD requires no prior information on the primary user, the channel between primary user transmitter and secondary user receiver, and is robust to noise uncertainty. Theoretical analysis and simulation results show that the proposed MASS-BSTD can sense the presence of primary user signal reliably.

Signal Space Diversity Techniques with Fast Decoding Based on MDS Codes

In wireless communication systems, signal space diversity techniques are usually adopted to combat channel fading by exploiting time diversity, frequency diversity, spatial diversity or a combination of them. Most existing schemes to achieve signal space diversity are based on linear constellation spreading. In this paper, we propose a novel nonlinear signal space diversity technique based on maximum distance separable (MDS) codes. The new technique provides a design flexibility for almost any number of diversity channels and desired diversity orders. We also propose a simple and suboptimal diversity channel selection (DCS) decoding for our new scheme. DCS decoding can greatly reduce the decoding complexity at a cost of marginal performance loss relative to the optimal detection while keeping the diversity order. Simulation results show that with the same throughput but a lower decoding and implementation complexity, our scheme can have superior performance than the optimal linear spreading schemes over either independent fading or additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channels.

Achieving Directionality and Transmit Diversity via Integrating Beam Pattern Scanning (BPS) Antenna Arrays and OFDM

In this paper, we introduce a novel merger of antenna arrays with scanning beam patterns, and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) systems. Controlled time varying phase shifts are applied to the antenna array elements mounted at the base station with beam patterns directed toward the desired user. This creates a small beam pattern movement called Beam Pattern Scanning (BPS). In rich scattering environments BPS creates a time varying environment leading to time diversity exploitable at the receiver enhances its probability-of-error performance. Here, we apply OFDM signals to BPS antenna arrays, and we achieve: (1) directionality, which supports Space Division Multiple Access (SDMA); and (2) a time diversity gain, which leads to high performance. We discuss the structure of the base station antenna array and the OFDM receiver that exploits time diversity. We also introduce the merger of BPS and multi-carrier OFDM (MC-OFDM) systems. In MC-OFDM each bit is transmitted over all sub-carriers after serial to parallel conversion. BPS/ MC-OFDM receiver exploits both time diversity inherent in BPS, and frequency diversity inherent in MC-OFDM transmission technique. Simulation results show high Probability-of-error performance is achie- vable via BPS/OFDM and BPS/MC-OFDM schemes comparing to the traditional OFDM and MC-OFDM, respectively. Simulations also reveal that MC-OFDM system as well as its merger with BPS is capable of mitigating large Peak-to-Average Ratio (PAPR) problem in traditional OFDM system. In addition, performance simulations with coded OFDM (COFDM) and coded MC-OFDM (MC-COFDM) and their merger with BPS are studied.

Fading Reduction by Aperture Averaging and Spatial Diversity in Optical Wireless Systems

Atmospheric turbulence can cause a significant performance degradation in free-space optical communication systems. It is well known that the effect of turbulence can be reduced by performing aperture averaging and/or employing spatial diversity at the receiver. In this paper, we provide a synthesis on the effectiveness of these techniques under different atmospheric turbulence conditions from a telecommunication point of view. In particular, we quantify the performance improvement in terms of average bit error rate (BER) and outage capacity, which are among important parameters in practice. The efficiency of channel coding and the feasibility of exploiting time diversity in aperture averaging receivers are discussed as well. We also compare single- and multiple-aperture systems from the point of view of fading reduction by considering uncorrelated fading on adjacent apertures for the latter case. We show that when the receiver is background noise limited, the use of multiple apertures is largely preferred to a single large aperture under strong turbulence conditions. A single aperture is likely to be preferred under moderate turbulence conditions, however. When the receiver is thermal noise limited, even under strong turbulence conditions, the use of multiple apertures is interesting only when working at a very low BER. We also provide discussions on several practical issues related to system implementation.

Beam Pattern Scanning (BPS) versus Space-Time Block Coding (STBC) and Space-Time Trellis Coding (STTC)

In this paper, Beam Pattern Scanning (BPS), a transmit diversity technique, is compared with two well known transmit diversity techniques, space-time block coding (STBC) and space-time trellis coding (STTC). In BPS (also called beam pattern oscillation), controlled time varying weight vectors are applied to the antenna array elements mounted at the base station (BS). This creates a small movement in the antenna array pattern directed toward the desired user. In rich scattering environments, this small beam pattern movement creates an artificial fast fading channel. The receiver is designed to exploit time diversity benefits of the fast fading channel. Via the application of simple combining techniques, BPS improves the probability-of-error performance and network capacity with minimal cost and complexity. In this work, to highlight the potential of the BPS, we compare BPS and Space-Time Coding (i.e., STBC and STTC) schemes. The comparisons are in terms of their complexity, system physical dimension, network capacity, probability-of-error performance, and spectrum efficiency. It is shown that BPS leads to higher network capacity and performance with a smaller antenna dimension and complexity with minimal loss in spectrum efficiency. This identifies BPS as a promising scheme for future wireless communications with smart antennas.

Opportunistic Spectral Usage: Bounds and a Multi-Band CSMA/CA Protocol

In this paper, we study the gains from opportunistic spectrum usage when neither sender or receiver are aware of the current channel conditions in different frequency bands. Hence to select the best band for sending data, nodes first need to measure the channel in different bands which takes time away from sending actual data. We analyze the gains from opportunistic band selection by deriving an optimal skipping rule, which balances the throughput gain from finding a good quality band with the overhead of measuring multiple bands. We show that opportunistic band skipping is most beneficial in low signal to noise scenarios, which are typically the cases when the node throughput in single-band (no opportunism) system is the minimum. To study the impact of opportunism on network throughput, we devise a CSMA/CA protocol, multi-band opportunistic auto rate (MOAR), which implements the proposed skipping rule on a per node pair basis. The proposed protocol exploits both time and frequency diversity, and is shown to result in typical throughput gains of 20% or more over a protocol which only exploits time diversity, opportunistic auto rate (OAR).

A dual QPSK soft-demapper for multiband OFDM exploiting time-domain spreading and guard interval diversity

When considering the relative fast processing speeds and low power requirements for wireless personal area networks (WPAN) including wireless universal serial bus (WUSB) consumer based products, then the efficiency and cost effectiveness of these products become paramount. This paper presents an improved soft-output QPSK demapper suitable for the products above that not only exploits time diversity and guard carrier diversity, but also merges the demapping and symbol combining functions together to minimize CPU cycles, or memory access dependant upon the chosen implementation architecture. The proposed demapper is presented in the context of multiband OFDM version of ultra wideband (UWB) (ECMA-368) as the chosen physical implementation for high-rate wireless USB.

Cooperative and opportunistic transmission for wireless ad hoc networks

Moving toward 4G, wireless ad hoc networks receive growing interest due to users' provisioning of mobility, usability of services, and seamless communications. In ad hoc networks fading environments provide the opportunity to exploit variations in channel conditions, and transmit to the user with the currently best channel. In this article two types of opportunistic transmission, which leverage time diversity and multi-user diversity, respectively, are studied. Considering the co-channel interference and lack of a central controller in ad hoc networks, the and opportunistic concept is promoted. For opportunistic transmission that exploits time diversity, it is observed that the inequality in channel contention due to the hidden terminal phenomenon tends to result in energy inefficiency. Under this design philosophy, we propose a distributed cooperative rate adaptation (CRA) scheme to reduce overall system power consumption. Taking advantage of the time-varying channel among different users/receivers and being aware of the potential contention among neighboring transmissions, we propose a QoS-aware cooperative and opportunistic scheduling (COS) scheme to improve system performance while satisfying QoS requirements of individual flows. Simulation results show that by leveraging node cooperation, our proposed schemes, CRA and COS, achieve higher network throughput and provide better QoS support than existing work

Cross-layer optimization for OFDM wireless networks-part II: algorithm development

We have established a theoretical framework for cross-layer optimization in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) wireless networks. In this paper, we focus on effective and practical algorithms for efficient and fair resource allocation in OFDM wireless networks. We have taken various conditions into account and developed a variety of efficient algorithms, including sorting-search dynamic subcarrier assignment, greedy bit loading, and power allocation, as well as objective aggregation algorithms. We have also modified those algorithms for a certain type of nonconcave utility functions. To further improve performance by exploiting time diversity, a low-pass time filter can be easily incorporated into all of the algorithms. Simulation results have confirmed that the utility-based cross-layer optimization can significantly enhance the system performance and guarantee fairness. The gains come from multiuser diversity, frequency diversity, as well as time diversity. The fairness is automatically achieved by the behavior of marginal utility functions.

Effect of spatial fading correlation on CDMA code-acquisition performance

The effect of correlations among the fading signals at the multiple antennas on the code-acquisition performance for preamble search in a code-division multiple-access (CDMA) uplink is investigated. Previous results for frequency-selective fading assumed independent fading at each antenna. A general case of spatial fading correlation as a function of antenna spacing and azimuth spread is presented for the performance analysis of code-acquisition systems. The correlated antennas are exploited to derive the probability density function of a decision variable. The performance of a maximum-likelihood (ML) code-acquisition technique based on spatially correlated antennas is analysed by considering the detection, miss, and false-alarm probabilities. The result of performance analysis of a code-acquisition scheme utilising uncorrelated diversity antennas is also described. The detection performance and mean acquisition time given by partial correlation in spatial fading are presented and compared with those offered by antenna decorrelation via numerical evaluation. It is shown that without exploiting time diversity, the code-acquisition approach with multiple antennas provides much better detection performance than the corresponding scheme with a single antenna in a frequency-selective fading channel and that the performance enhancement depends on the degree of spatial fading correlation.

Transmit Diversity via Oscillating-Beam-Pattern Adaptive Antennas: An Evaluation Using Geometric-Based Stochastic Circular-Scenario Channel Modeling

Applying carefully-selected time-varying phases (delays) to array elements of an adaptive antenna, the beam pattern oscillates in a controlled manner. This creates a time varying channel with a controllable coherence time. With an adaptive antenna at the base station (BS) and a single omnidirectional antenna at the mobile, the controllable coherence time is used by the mobile to exploit time diversity and enhance performance. In this work, assuming an oscillating-beam-pattern antenna array at the BS, the channel is properly modeled and the coherence time is evaluated. A so-called geometric-based stochastic channel model is presented, assuming a circular coverage area, and the channel is simulated in an urban environment. We demonstrate the relationship between coherence time and the antenna array control parameters and show that seven-fold-diversity can be created via small beam pattern oscillation.