A unified approach to the probability of error for noncoherent anddifferentially coherent modulations over generalized fadingchannels

We present a unified approach to determine the exact bit error rate (BER) of noncoherent and differentially coherent modulations with single and multichannel reception over additive white Gaussian noise and generalized fading channels. The multichannel reception results assume independent fading in the channels and are applicable to systems that employ post-detection equal gain combining. Our approach relies on an alternate form of the Marcum Q-function and leads to expressions of the BER involving a single finite-range integral which can be readily evaluated numerically. Aside from unifying the past results, the new approach also allows for a more general solution to the problem in that it includes many situations that in the past defied a simple solution. The best example of this occurs for multichannel reception where the fading on each channel need not be identically distributed nor even distributed according to the same family of distributions     

Channel characterization and modeling for Ka-band very smallaperture terminals

An increasing number of commercial applications are being promoted for future Ka-band satellite communication systems. Many of these systems will involve low-margin very small aperture terminals (VSATs). These systems are subject to important atmospheric propagation degradations that affect the quality of transmission and the link availability. The objective of this paper is to characterize the Ka-band channel and evaluate the performance degradation in VSATs resulting from atmospheric propagation, impairments. In particular microwave propagation through a turbulent atmosphere is discussed, and the statistical characterization and modeling of tropospheric scintillation is reviewed. Moreover, the paper extends the method proposed by Filip and Vilar (1990) for the long-term characterization and modeling of the combined effect of rain impairments and scintillation. Specifically, the increase in noise temperature during rain events is added to the Filip-Vilar model. This leads to a five-parameter global fading distribution that is used to predict typical Ka-band satellite link outage time, the mathematical formalism is illustrated by applying the method to the selected case of the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS)-Georgia Tech experimental downlink. Numerical results confirm that both rain impairments and scintillation are important factors in the design of Ka-band VSAT systems     

Performance analysis of generalized selection combining with threshold test per branch (T-GSC)

We analyze the average bit error rate (BER) and outage probability performance of two types of conditional diversity combining schemes in which each branch signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is tested against a fixed predetermined threshold and applied to the combiner only if its value exceeds this threshold. The two schemes, respectively referred to as absolute threshold generalized selection combining (AT-GSC) and normalized threshold generalized selection combining (NT-GSC), differ from one another only in the manner in which the threshold is chosen. Nevertheless, when operating over a generalized fading channel, the two schemes have a markedly different behavior as reflected in the numerical results presented. The analytical method taken to obtain these results follows the moment generating function approach originally proposed by the authors for analyzing the performance of more conventional diversity combining schemes (see Simon, M.K. and Alouini, M.-S., Proc. IEEE, vol.86, p.1860-77, 1998).     

Harmonic mean and end-to-end performance of transmission systems with relays

Closed-form expressions for the statistics of the harmonic mean of two independent and identically distributed gamma variates are presented. The probability density function of the harmonic mean of two F variates is also derived. These statistical results are then applied to study the performance of wireless communication systems with nonregenerative relays over flat Nakagami fading channels. More specifically, outage probability formulas for noise-limited systems as well as systems affected by interference are obtained. Furthermore, general expressions for average bit-error rates are also derived. Finally, comparisons between regenerative and nonregenerative systems are presented. Numerical results show that the former systems clearly outperform the latter ones for low average signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). They also show that the two systems have similar performance at high average SNRs.     

Exponential-type bounds on the generalized Marcum Q-function withapplication to error probability analysis over fading channels

Strict upper and lower bounds of exponential-type are derived for the generalized (mth order) Marcum Q-function which enable simple evaluation of a tight upper bound on the average bit-error probability performance of a wide class of noncoherent and differentially coherent communication systems operating over generalized fading channels. For the case of frequency selective fading with arbitrary statistics per independent fading path, the resulting upper hound on performance is expressed in the form of a product of moment generating functions of the instantaneous power random variables that characterize these paths     

An MGF-based performance analysis of generalized selectioncombining over Rayleigh fading channels

Using the notion of the “spacing” between ordered exponential random variables, a performance analysis of the generalized selection combining (GSC) diversity scheme over Rayleigh fading channels is presented and compared with that of the conventional maximal-ratio combining and selection combining schemes. Starting with the moment generating function (MGF) of the GSC output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), we derive closed-form expressions for the average combined SNR, outage probability, and average error probability of a wide variety of modulation schemes operating over independently, identically distributed (i.i.d.) diversity paths. Because of their simple form, these expressions readily allow numerical evaluation for cases of practical interest. The results are also extended to the case of non-i.i.d. diversity paths     

An adaptive modulation scheme for simultaneous voice and datatransmission over fading channels

We propose a new adaptive modulation technique for simultaneous voice and data transmission over fading channels and study its performance. The proposed scheme takes advantage of the time-varying nature of fading to dynamically allocate the transmitted power between the inphase (I) and quadrature (Q) channels. It uses fixed-rate binary phase shift keying (BPSK) modulation on the Q channel for voice, and variable-rate M-ary amplitude modulation (M-AM) on the I channel for data. For favorable channel conditions, most of the power is allocated to high rate data transmission on the I channel. The remaining power is used to support the variable-power voice transmission on the Q channel. As the channel degrades, the modulation gradually reduces its data throughput and reallocates most of its available power to ensure a continuous and satisfactory voice transmission. The scheme is intended to provide a high average spectral efficiency for data communications while meeting the stringent delay requirements imposed by voice. We present closed-form expressions as well as numerical and simulation results for the outage probability, average allocated power, achievable spectral efficiency, and average bit error rate (BER) for both voice and data transmission over Nakagami-m fading channels. We also discuss the features and advantages of the proposed scheme. For example, in Rayleigh fading with an average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 20 dB, our scheme is able to transmit about 2 bits/s/Hz of data at an average BER of 10 ^-5 while sending about 1 bit/s/Hz of voice at an average BER of 10^-2     

Performance analysis of coherent equal gain combining overNakagami-m fading channels

We study the exact average output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and symbol error rate (SER) of M-ary phaseshift-keying (PSK) signals with coherent equal gain combining reception. The analysis assumes independent Nakagami-m (1960) fading paths, which are not necessarily identically distributed. On one hand, we use geometric summations to obtain closed-form expressions for the average output SNR over diversity paths with an exponentially decaying power delay profile. On the other hand, capitalizing on an alternative integral representation of the conditional SER along with Gauss-Hermite quadrature integration, we derive an average SER expression in the form of a single finite-range integral and an integrand composed of tabulated functions. We also present a simpler but approximate approach for the closed-form evaluation of the SER of these signals over independent identically distributed Nakagami-m fading paths     

Sum of gamma variates and performance of wireless communicationsystems over Nakagami-fading channels

Capitalizing on the Moschopoulos (1985) single gamma series representation of the probability density function (PDF) of the sum of gamma variates, we provide a PDF-based approach for the performance analysis of maximal-ratio combining and postdetection equal-gain combining diversity techniques as well as cochannel interference of cellular mobile radio systems over Nakagami (1960)-fading channels with arbitrary parameters. Aside from putting under the same umbrella many of the past results obtained via characteristic function (CF) or moment generating function (MGF)-based approaches, the proposed approach also allows the derivation of additional performance measures, which are harder to analyze via CF or MGF-based approaches