A robust noncoherent equalizer receiver for fading channels with short memory . II. Modified structure

For pt. I see ibid., vol.5, no.5, p.1040-54 (2002). In Part I, we introduced a robust noncoherent maximum likelihood sequence estimation (MLSE) equalizer receiver structure applicable to radio channels with impulse responses spanning less than two bit intervals. The distinct characteristic of this receiver was its robustness to carrier frequency offsets. However, due to the differential operation prior to the MLSE equalization, we observed some performance degradation, resulting in a delay spread range significantly smaller than an equivalent coherent MLSE equalizer. We propose techniques to significantly improve the performance of the noncoherent equalizer by using a second, complementary differential processor. The performance assessment of the new receiver is presented. In particular, using the Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications system as an example, it is shown that the modified receiver's dispersive channel operation range is almost twice as much as the basic structure, with a multipath diversity gain comparable to a coherent equalizer receiver. On the other hand, unlike coherent structures, it retains low sensitivity to both frequency offsets and modulation index drifts. Finally, we introduce an approach to further extend the receiver's frequency offset tolerance to that of a standard differential detector receiver.     

Complex noncoherent receivers for GMSK signals

Noncoherent demodulators are very attractive for high performance radio LAN (HIPERLAN) systems because of their low implementation costs and their inherent robustness against frequency and carrier phase offsets. However, when the channel is time dispersive, the nonlinear intersymbol interference (ISI) introduced by these demodulators precludes the use of conventional linear equalization strategies. We present an alternative noncoherent receiver structure followed by a nonlinear equalizer, which includes a RAM and a Viterbi detector, capable of equalizing nonlinear multipath fading channels. In addition, we also present a new algorithm specifically for noncoherent demodulators, which allows estimation of all useful signal values at the input of the equalizer to be stored in the RAM. By means of computer simulations, we report the performance and computational complexity tradeoffs of the receiver/equalizer structure, including antenna diversity. We show that demodulators which consist of a complex receiver and a Viterbi detector are much more robust against multipath fading channels than traditional real noncoherent demodulators. The results suggest that in a typical HIPERLAN scenario, where the channel delay spread is less than 50 ns and a reliable line of sight component exists, it is feasible to combat multipath effects using noncoherent demodulation     

An adaptive truncated MLSE receiver for Japanese personal digitalcellular

This paper describes a dual-mode Japanese personal digital cellular receiver that uses an adaptive truncated symbol-spaced maximum-likelihood sequence-estimation (MLSE) equalizer in one mode and a tangent type differential detector in the other. The receiver employs a channel estimation and symbol synchronization procedure that uses the known phase shifts between successive symbols in the synchronization word. Per-survivor processing is used to track the channel variations and carrier frequency offset. Simulation results are presented for multipath Rayleigh fading channels having various delay profiles. Comparisons between the regular symbol-spaced truncated MLSE equalizer and a fractionally spaced truncated MLSE equalizer are also furnished     

Simple non-coherent equaliser for the DECT system

A non-coherent equaliser structure suitable for DECT-type systems is introduced which performs equalisation at the output of a differential detector. It employs a two-state Viterbi algorithm using a simple channel estimation process. Performance assessments are presented which suggest that the new receiver can yield significant improvements with respect to standard non-coherent receivers in dispersive channels. At the same time, unlike coherent equaliser structures, it remains largely unaffected by both modulation index drifts and frequency offsets     

Noncoherent equalization of GMSK using complex receiver structures

In this letter, the performance of the HIPERLAN system in an indoor multipath fading channel is considered. Due to the high carrier frequency and high data rate, a simple noncoherent demodulator followed by a nonlinear equalizer, which includes a RAM and a Viterbi decoder, is proposed to cope with intersymbol interference. The novelty of the proposed equalizer is that a complex noncoherent signal is used. Although the complexity of the receiver is doubled, performance is greatly improved with respect to real receivers     

Noncoherent adaptive channel identification algorithms fornoncoherent sequence estimation

In this letter, two novel noncoherent adaptive algorithms for channel identification are introduced. The proposed noncoherent least-mean-square (LMS) and noncoherent recursive least squares (RLS) algorithms can be combined easily with noncoherent sequence estimation (NSE) for M-ary differential phase-shift keying signals transmitted over intersymbol interference (ISI) channels. It is shown that the resulting adaptive noncoherent receivers are very robust against carrier phase variations. For zero frequency offset, the convergence speed and the steady-state error of the noncoherent adaptive algorithms are similar to those of conventional LMS and RLS algorithms. However, the conventional algorithms diverge even for relatively small frequency offsets, whereas the proposed noncoherent algorithms converge for relatively large frequency offsets. Simulations confirm the good performance of NSE combined with noncoherent adaptive channel estimation in time-variant (fading) ISI channels     

Performance analyses of adaptive noncoherent receivers for MC‐CDMA communications

In this paper, we propose differential phase‐shift keying (DPSK) noncoherent receivers for multicarrier code division multiple access systems in multipath channels. The noncoherent receivers are composed of a linear equalizer and a decision‐feedback differential detector to detect DPSK signals. The performances of the proposed noncoherent receivers can be improved by increasing the number of feedback symbols. For an infinite number of feedback symbols, the optimum weight can be derived analytically, and the performances of the proposed noncoherent receivers approach that of the conventional coherent receiver. For adaptation of the equalizer coefficients, modified least mean square and recursive least squares algorithms are proposed. Furthermore, the reduced‐rank schemes are proposed to simplify the system complexities. Some simulation examples are given to show the system performances of the four proposed receivers. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Performance of digital DECT radio links based on semianalyticalmethods

We report a very efficient semianalytical approach for the performance evaluation of differential detection schemes for GMSK signals of the DECT standard. Precisely, for a given channel, the performance is determined by means of an analytical procedure which includes the saddlepoint approximation. We consider both static channels (with impulse response generated by the simulation program SIRCIM) and two-ray Rayleigh and log-normal fading channels. As a departure from previous works, our receiver includes an all-digital part after the analog differential detection scheme. The digital part includes: (1) a block for the estimation of both the optimum sampling phase and the nonlinear channel coefficients (by making use of the DECT training sequence), (2) a one-tap decision feedback (DF) equalizer, and (3) a block for the evaluation of the approximate optimum bias level (γ _e) in the threshold detector. Both the DF equalizer coefficient and γ_e are based on the nonlinear channel coefficients estimate. For channels with a normalized delay spread up to 0.2, the use of the optimum threshold together with the DF equalizer permits a gain of about 2 dB at BER=10^-6 with respect to a receiver without equalization and a zero-level decision threshold. In addition, we discover that, in indoor environments, the 2-bit GMSK detector performs roughly the same as the 1-bit detector. The threshold optimization is also effective in the presence of channels affected by fading. To support this statement, we report the performance of the 1-bit differential detection scheme combined with antenna selection diversity in the presence of a two-ray log-normal and Rayleigh fading channel     

Adaptive linear equalization combined with noncoherent detectionfor MDPSK signals

A novel noncoherent receiver for M-ary differential phase-shift keying signals transmitted over intersymbol interference channels is presented. The noncoherent receiver consists of a linear equalizer and a decision-feedback differential detector. A significant performance gain over a previously proposed noncoherent receiver can be observed. For an infinite number of feedback symbols, the optimum equalizer coefficients can be calculated analytically, and the performance of the proposed receiver approaches that of a coherent linear minimum mean-squared-error equalizer. Moreover, a modified least mean square and a modified recursive least squares algorithm for adaptation of the equalizer coefficients are discussed     

Adaptive combined DFE/MLSE techniques for ISI channels

By embedding a decision-feedback equalizer (DFE) into the structure of a maximum-likelihood sequence estimator (MLSE), an adaptive combined DFE/MLSE scheme is proposed. In this combined DFE/MLSE, the embedded DFE has three functions: (i) prefiltering the received signals and truncating the equivalent channel response into the desired one, (ii) compensating for channel distortions, and (iii) providing the MLSE detector with predicted values of input signals. Since the embedded MLSE detector operates on the predicted signals the detected symbols at the output of the DFE/MLSE do not suffer any delay and can be directly fed back into the embedded DFE so that the error propagation, which usually takes place in a conventional DFE, can be greatly reduced. Analytical and simulation results indicate that the performance is significantly improved by the DFE/MLSE compared to the conventional DFE while its computation complexity is much less than that of the conventional MLSE receiver. The combined DFE/MLSE can use different adaptive structures (block-updating, sliding window updating or symbol-by-symbol updating) to meet different performance objectives. Moreover, the proposed DFE/MLSE provides a trade-off between performance and complexity with a parameter m representing the MLSE detection depth as well as the number of predicting steps of the embedded DFE. For some particular values of m, this scheme is capable of emulating the conventional DFE, MLSE-VA, adaptive LE-MLSE equalizer, adaptive DDFSE, and adaptive BDFE without detection delay     

Performance of sequence estimation scheme of narrowband digital FMsignals with limiter-discriminator detection

A communication scheme using binary FM with noncoherent limiter-discriminator detection has been well known. Up to now, the improvement of bit error rate at the receiver side has been carried out through the bandwidth optimization of the IF filter, the decision feedback equalization (DFE), or simple two-state maximum likelihood sequence estimator (MLSE). This channel is inherently the intersymbol interference (ISI) channel due to the premodulation baseband filtering as well as the narrowband IF filtering. So the sequence estimation scheme using the Viterbi algorithm can be applied successfully, although the channel is not additive white Gaussian and maximum likelihood in the strict sense. In this paper, through computer simulations, we examine the actual BER improvement of the sequence estimation scheme with multiple-state trellis especially for MSK and GMSK signals. We mainly consider static AWGN and frequency nonselective Rician fading channels. Consequently, by adjusting the IF filter bandwidth, very large estimation gains are obtained compared to the conventional DFE or MLSE detector for AWGN and Rician fading channels. This scheme does not produce large demodulation delay and is implemented only by adding the signal processing part to the final stage of the receiver. This scheme seems to be very useful for any applications including satellite mobile channels     

Noncoherent MLSE detection of M-DPSK for DS-CDMA wireless systems

This paper focuses on maximum-likelihood sequence estimation of noncoherent M-ary differential phase-shift keying (M-DPSK) receivers for code division multiple-access (CDMA) systems, which make use of direct-sequence spread-spectrum modulations. A typical frequency-selective Rayleigh environment with multipath diversity at the receiver is considered. In this scenario, the optimum noncoherent decision metric, which requires an estimation of the channel tap weights envelope, is derived. Then, in order not to increase the receiver implementation complexity, a joint channel and data estimation strategy is proposed, which does not require the transmission of a known training sequence (blind estimation). In this case, the decision metric becomes a simple equal gain combining of multiple-symbol square-law detection decision metrics. For this suboptimum noncoherent detector, useful bounds on the bit error probability are provided through a theoretical analysis. Nonconstant and constant multipath intensity profiles are both considered for this purpose. Simulations are also carried out in order to verify the accuracy of the theoretical bounds     

MLSE and MAP Equalization for Transmission Over Doubly Selective Channels

In this paper, equalization for transmission over doubly selective channels is discussed. The symbol-by-symbol maximum a posteriori probability (MAP) equalizer and the maximum-likelihood sequence estimation (MLSE) are discussed. The doubly selective channel is modeled using the basis expansion model (BEM). Using the BEM allows for an easy and low-complexity mechanism for constructing the channel trellis to implement the MLSE and the MAP equalizer. The MLSE and the MAP equalizer are implemented for single-carrier transmission and for multicarrier transmission implemented using orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM). In this scenario, a complexity-diversity tradeoff can be observed. In addition, we propose a joint estimation and equalization technique for doubly selective channels. In this joint estimation and equalization technique, the channel state information (CSI) is obtained in an iterative manner. Simulation results show that the performance of the joint channel estimation and equalization approaches the performance when perfect CSI is available at the receiver.     

Performance Analysis of Optimum and Suboptimum Selection Diversity Schemes on Rayleigh Fading Channels With Imperfect Channel Estimates

In this paper, we present a comparative analysis on the effects of channel estimation errors on the performance of optimum and suboptimum selection diversity (SD) receivers on Rayleigh-fading channels. By modeling the estimation errors as independent complex Gaussian random variables, we derive simple closed-form expressions for the average probability of error for both optimum and suboptimum SD schemes with noisy channel estimates. With dual diversity and imperfect estimates, we establish a connection between optimum SD and maximal-ratio combining (MRC), and between suboptimum SD and equal-gain combining diversity schemes. Interestingly, we show that the optimum SD receiver structure and the resulting performance for differential binary coherent phase-shift keying (DBPSK) signaling can be obtained, in a straightforward way, as a special case of the performance of the optimum SD scheme with binary PSK signaling and channel estimation errors. For a fixed average power and bit duration, in conjunction with pilot-assisted minimum mean-square error channel estimation, we show that the optimum coherent SD scheme coincides with that of the optimum noncoherent SD scheme with binary frequency-shift keying (BFSK) signaling, whereas the coherent MRC scheme coincides with the optimum noncoherent receiver (i.e., the square-law combiner) for BFSK. The optimum number of diversity channels, under an energy-sharing mode of operation, is also studied. Finally, we formulate the problem of optimal pilot placement, consider channel estimation with a practical pilot-symbol-assisted modulation technique, and present some numerical results illustrating the comparative performances of various SD receivers     

Adaptive MLSE for DPSK in time- and frequency-selective channels

An adaptive equalizer structure based on a state space formulation and maximum likelihood sequence estimation (MLSE) is developed for a time-varying, frequency-selective channel. Differential phase shift keying (DPSK) is assumed at the transmitter and effective differential decoding is performed at the receiver. The standard models of a time-varying linear channel and the Karhunen-Lo`eve (KL) expansion underpin the receiver structure. Analytical and simulation results for the receiver are shown. The resulting receiver is a per-survivor structure.     

A suboptimal approach to channel equalization based on the nearestneighbor rule

Applications of clustering and neural network techniques to channel equalization have revealed the classification nature of this problem. This paper illustrates an implementation of a global system for mobile communications (GSM) receiver in which channel equalization and demodulation are realized by means of the nearest neighbor (NN) classifier algorithm. The most important advantage in using such techniques is the significant reduction in terms of the computational complexity compared with the maximum likelihood sequence estimation (MLSE) equalizer. The proposed approach involves symbol-by-symbol interpretation and the knowledge of the channel is embedded in the mapping process of the received symbols over the symbols of the training sequence. This means that no explicit channel estimation need be carried out, either with correlative blocks or using neural networks thus speeding up the entire process. The performance of the proposed receiver, evaluated through a channel simulator for mobile radio communications, is compared with the results obtained by means of a 16-state Viterbi algorithm and other suboptimal receivers. It is shown that the presented algorithm increases the bit error rate (BER) compared with the MLSE demodulator, but the performance degradation, despite the simplicity of the receiver, is kept within the limits imposed by the GSM specifications     

Electrical equalization for advanced optical communication systems

We investigate equalizers for electronic dispersion compensation (EDC) of dispersion limited optical fibre communication links in combination with different modulation formats. We show that the performance of conventional equalizers including feedforward equalizer (FFE) and decision feedback equalizer (DFE) are fundamentally limited by the nonlinearity of square-law detection of the photodiode in direct detection systems. Advanced modulation formats such as differential phase shift keying (DPSK) and optical duobinary further enhance this kind of nonlinearity and degrade further FFE/DFE performance. However, nonlinear FFE–DFE and maximum likelihood sequence estimation (MLSE) take into account the mitigation of nonlinear inter symbol interference (ISI) and hence can achieve much better performance. We show that in contrast to other modulation formats, optical single sideband modulation results in approximately linear distortions after detection and thus a simple linear FFE equalizer can achieve good compensation.     

Error performance of innovations-based MLSE for Rayleigh fadingchannels

Error performance of maximum likelihood sequence estimation (MLSE) of digital signals transmitted over Rayleigh fading channels is studied in this paper. The application of the innovations approach provides us not only with a general MLSE receiver structure, but also with a tool for analyzing the performance of the receiver. We show that the sequence pairwise error probability of the MLSE receiver is determined by the eigenvalues of a matrix generated from the autocorrelation function of the received signal. For any practical applications, the MLSE for Rayleigh fading channels exhibits an irreducible error floor that depends on the channel characteristics such as the Doppler frequency bandwidth and frequency selectivity. An upper bound on bit error probability can be calculated by using the sequence pairwise error probability. Also, it is shown that diversity reception can significantly improve the MLSE error performance     

Theory of the performance of a DECT receiver in a static channel

The performance of a digital enhanced cordless telecommunications (DECT) receiver in a static channel is studied. The theoretical results are then compared with computer-based simulations. The following issues were investigated: bit-error-rate performance of the differentially coherent detector with and without decision feedback, performance of both the frequency offset estimation from the DECT preamble, and the signal-to-noise ratio obtained from both the DECT preamble and the data field     

Coded noncoherent communication with amplitude/phase modulation: from shannon theory to practical architectures

We develop bandwidth efficient radio transceivers, using amplitude/phase modulations, for frequency non-selective channels whose time variations are typical of outdoor mobile wireless systems. The transceiver is noncoherent, neither requiring pilots for channel estimation and tracking nor assuming prior channel knowledge on the part of the receiver. Serial concatenation of a binary outer channel code with an inner differential modulation code provides a turbo structure that, along with the channel memory, is exploited for joint iterative channel and data estimation. While prior work on noncoherent communication mainly focuses on PSK alphabets, we consider a moderate to high SNR regime in which amplitude/phase constellations are more efficient. First, the complexity of block noncoherent demodulation is reduced to a level that is comparable to coherent receivers. Then, a tool for choosing the constellation and bit-to-symbol mapping is developed by adapting Extrinsic Information Transfer (EXIT) charts for noncoherent demodulation. The recommended constellations differ significantly from standard coherent channel constellations, and from prior recommendations for uncoded noncoherent systems. The analysis shows that standard convolutional codes are nearly optimal when paired with differential amplitude/phase modulation.