Novel FEXT Cancellation and Equalization for High Speed Ethernet Transmission

In high-speed multi-pair wireline communication systems, such as 10 Gigabit Ethernet over Copper (10GBASE-T), far-end crosstalk (FEXT) becomes a major impairment and needs to be suppressed to increase data rates. Conventional techniques based on crosstalk cancellation are not suitable for FEXT due to the fact that the disturbing source of FEXT is generally unknown to the victims. This paper presents two different approaches to efficiently deal with FEXT over unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) copper cables. To eliminate the error propagation problem in practice, both approaches use the Tomlinson–Harashima Precoding (THP) technique which however makes the transceiver design nontrivial. In the first approach, FEXT is treated as noise and a new feedforward FEXT canceller is proposed. Compared with conventional techniques, the proposed FEXT canceller can mitigate the non-causal part of FEXT, thus leading to better FEXT cancellation performance. In the second approach, FEXT is treated as signal, and the general multi-input multi-output (MIMO) equalization technique is combined with the TH precoding technique to deal with both intersymbol interference (ISI) and FEXT. Different from the existing works, the proposed designs comply with the 10GBASE-T standard and they are suitable in real applications. Simulation results verify that the proposed approaches can achieve much better performance in terms of decision-point signal-to-noise ratio (DP-SNR) than conventional techniques. It is also shown that the hardware complexity of the transceiver can be reduced by about 37.2% by utilizing the increased DP-SNR in the proposed designs.      

Monte Carlo FEXT cancellers for DSL channels

Crosstalk coupling is a severe impairment to transmission on twisted-pair copper cables such as digital subscriber telephone loops (DSLs). In this paper, we investigate the problem of far-end crosstalk (FEXT) cancellation for DSL. We propose a new soft interference canceller for coordinated self-FEXT cancellation across multiple twisted-pairs. The proposed receiver treats the FEXT-impaired channel as a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channel; it uses the sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) technique to exploit the sequential structure inherent in iterative cancellation techniques for MIMO decoding. On telephone loops with strong FEXT, the proposed algorithm shows 0.5-dB coding gain with respect to previously proposed techniques. Furthermore, being soft-input-soft-output in nature, the proposed SMC receiver can iteratively exchange extrinsic information with a MAP decoder to successively cancel FEXT, leading to a turbo FEXT canceller.     

Performance of a hybrid decision feedback equalizer structure forCAP-based DSL systems

We study the performance of a class of derision feedback equalizer (DFE) structures for high-speed digital transmission systems. We first present mathematical formulation of minimum mean-square error (MMSE) and the optimum tap coefficients for various finite-length phase-splitting equalizers over the loop in the presence of colored noise, such as near-end crosstalk (NEXT) and far-end crosstalk (FEXT). The performance of the equalizers is also analyzed in the presence of narrowband interference and the channel reflections introduced by bridged taps. The hybrid-type DFE (H-DFE) is presented as a practical equalizer structure for these applications. The results of analysis show that the H-DFE has advantages in the performance and/or in the implementation complexity as compared with the existing DFE structures. An additional advantage of the H-DFE is in the transmission systems that employ the precoding technique. The precoding for the H-DFE allows the system to track small changes in the channel     

Vectored transmission for digital subscriber line systems

This paper describes the "vectored" transmission technique for digital subscriber line (DSL) systems, which utilizes user coordination at the central office or optical network unit. This method exploits the colocation of the downstream transmitters and of the upstream receivers, in order to achieve far-end crosstalk (FEXT) cancellation and perform multiuser transmission optimization. The performance improvements are particularly pronounced in environments with strong FEXT such as in very high-speed DSL. Discrete multitone is employed for each user with additional constraints on the cyclic prefix length and with the assumption of block-synchronized transmission and reception for downstream and upstream transmission correspondingly. Within each tone, upstream crosstalk is removed by multiple-input-multiple-output decision feedback at the receiving side, while downstream crosstalk is eliminated by analogous preprocessing at the transmitting side. Additionally, the issue of transmission energy allocation in frequency and among users is addressed. Assuming frequency-division duplexing, the corresponding optimization problem is formulated and solved via convex programming both for a fixed upstream-downstream band plan and for a dynamically programmable band plan. The case of power backoff as a means to reduce the impact of crosstalk on alien systems is also treated. Interestingly, the performance of the proposed methods is shown to be very close to known information theory bounds     

Blind and nonblind turbo estimation for fast fading GSM channels

Wireless communication systems such as global system for mobile (GSM) communications are playing a growing role for data transmission. In order to ensure reliable transmission, the channel impulse response has to be estimated accurately. This is a difficult task particularly for fast fading channels caused by high-speed mobile units. We deal with the application of nonblind and blind channel estimation approaches to identify the full rate data Traffic CHannel (TCHF9.6) of GSM. We present a new iterative channel estimation scheme leading to a significant performance improvement especially for high-speed propagation with Doppler frequencies up to 500 Hz. Furthermore, it is shown that blind channel estimation schemes could be as efficient as nonblind methods when regarding bit error rates (BERs) after channel decoding in terms of the E¯_b/N₀ ratio. Moreover, a solution for the scalar ambiguity inherent in all blind estimation approaches is suggested     

Feedback Constraints for Adaptive Transmission

In this article, the feedback constraints that limit the potential of AMC and MIMO systems for FDD systems are presented. It has been shown that while adaptive transmission efficiently utilizes the available bandwidth and transmit power, feedback constraints could be a significant impediment. Channel prediction can be employed to compensate the impact of feedback delay but its effectiveness would depend on the accuracy of the channel model. It is also showed that feedback errors could cause outage regions where AMC is not feasible and could also impact the benefits of multiuser scheduling. Limited feedback is a major issue for MIMO-AMC systems because channel state information grows with the rank of the MIMO system, the number of transmission modes, and the number of users for broadcast systems. Since feedback transmission consumes resources that could otherwise be used for data transmission on the reverse channel, feedback design is extremely important especially for power-limited devices such as mobile stations. Finally, some open problems are outlined that are of interest to adaptive transmission systems     

A wideband crosstalk canceller for xDSL using common-mode information

This letter uses the twisted-pair common-mode signal as the input of an adaptive canceller to remove some wideband crosstalk in a digital subscriber line (xDSL) differential signal. Simulations using simple crosstalk and line balance models show the potential benefits of the canceller to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of an xDSL channel.     

MU-MISO Transmission with Limited Feedback

Downlink multi-user transmission techniques that allow several users to be served simultaneously in frequency and time have been recognized as a promising means to increase system capacity. However they require accurate channel state information (CSI) at the base station (BS) such that appropriate signal processing can be performed to separate multiple users in the space domain. In practice however, CSI cannot be perfectly known to the BS due to the capacity-limited feedback channel in FDD systems for instance. In this letter we investigate multiuser multiple-input single-output (MU-MISO) transmission with limited feedback. In particular we identify the useful information that the BS needs to deal with inter-user interference and a codebook design is derived accordingly. In addition, an adaptive threshold-based feedback approach is proposed, where only users with good feedback quality are allowed to do feedback. It is shown that the adaptive scheme can effectively improve the system performance given a fixed number of feedback bits.     

VLSI systems design of 51.84 Mb/s transceivers for ATM-LAN andbroadband access

We present: (1) system design issues for the implementation of 51.84 Mb/s ATM-LAN and broadband access transceivers and (2) a pipelined fractionally spaced linear equalizer (FSLE) architecture. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and bit-error rate (BER) along with VLSI constraints are addressed. For the LAN environment, major channel impairments include near-end crosstalk (NEXT), intersymbol interference (ISI), and impulse noise. The broadband access environment suffers from far end crosstalk (FEXT), ISI, radio-frequency interference (RFI), impulse noise, and splitter losses. Measured characteristics of the channel are compared with analytical models. These are employed in the design of the transmitter/receiver algorithms. The carrierless amplitude/phase (CAP) transmission scheme is presented as a practical bandwidth-efficient scheme for these applications. An adaptive FSLE employed in a CAP receiver eliminates ISI, suppresses NEXT (for ATM-LAN) and FEXT (for broadband access), and provides robustness to timing jitter. However, fractional tap spacing in combination with the high-data rates results in a high sample rate adaptive computation. Fortunately, throughput enhancing methods such as pipelining can be used for high-speed/low-power operation. A hardware-efficient pipelined architecture for the adaptive FSLE equalizer is presented. This has been developed using relaxed look-ahead, which maintains the algorithm functionality rather than the input-output mapping. Simulation and experimental results for high-speed digital CAP transceivers for LAN and broadband access are also presented     

A pipelined adaptive NEXT canceller

A near-end crosstalk (NEXT) canceller using a fine-grain pipelined architecture is presented. The performance of the proposed pipelined NEXT canceller is demonstrated in the 125 Mb/s twisted-pair distributed data interface and 155.52 Mb/s asynchronous transfer mode local area network applications. In addition, we analyze the computational complexity of the proposed pipelined NEXT canceller. It is shown that this architecture can be clocked at a rate that is 107 times faster than the serial architecture with a maximum loss of 2.0 dB in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)     

Performance of an Echo Canceller and Channel Estimator for On-Channel Repeaters in DVB-T/H Networks

This paper investigates the design and performance of an FIR echo canceller for on-channel repeaters in DVB-T/H network within the framework of the PLUTO project. The possible approaches for echo cancellation are briefly reviewed and the main guidelines for the design of such systems are presented. The main system parameters are discussed. The performance of an FIR echo canceller based on an open loop feedforward approach for channel estimation is tested for different radio channel conditions and for different number of taps of the FIR filter. It is shown that a minimum number of taps is recommended to achieve a certain mean rejection ratio or isolation depending on the type of channel. The expected degradation in performance due to the use of fixed point rather than floating point arithmetic in hardware implementation is presented for different number of bits. Channel estimation based on training sequences is investigated. The performance of maximum length sequences and constant amplitude zero autocorrelation (CAZAC) sequences is compared for different channels. Recommendations are given for training sequence type, length and level for DVB-T/H on-channel repeater deployment.     

A Partial CSI Estimation Approach for Downlink FDD massive-MIMO System with Different Base Transceiver Station Topologies

Massive multiple-input multiple-output (massive-MIMO) is a promising technology for next generation wireless communications systems due to its capability to increase the data rate and meet the enormous ongoing data traffic explosion. However, in non-reciprocal channels, such as those encountered in frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, channel state information (CSI) estimation using downlink (DL) training sequence is to date very challenging issue, especially when the channel exhibits a shorter coherence time. In particular, the availability of sufficiently accurate CSI at the base transceiver station (BTS) allows an efficient precoding design in the DL transmission to be achieved, and thus, reliable communication systems can be obtained. In order to achieve the aforementioned objectives, this paper presents a feasible DL training sequence design based on a partial CSI estimation approach for an FDD massive-MIMO system with a shorter coherence time. To this end, a threshold-based approach is proposed for a suitable DL pilot selection by exploring the statistical information of the channel covariance matrix. The mean square error of the proposed design is derived, and the achievable sum rate and bit-error-rate for maximum ratio transmitter and regularized zero forcing precoding is investigated over different BTS topologies with uniform linear array and uniform rectangular array. The results show that a feasible performance in the DL FDD massive-MIMO systems can be achieved even when a large number of antenna elements are deployed by the BTS and a shorter coherence time is considered.

     

On the capacity of a twisted-wire pair: Gaussian model

The performance of a twisted-pair channel is assumed to be dominated by near-end crosstalk (NEXT) from other pairs in the same cable. Both intrabuilding local and central office loop channels can be modeled as NEXT-dominated channels. The capacity of this type of channel is found, using a Gaussian model. It is shown that the capacity is independent of the transmitted power spectral density. The results also indicate that present systems operate far below theoretical capacity. The capacity of a twisted-pair channel with both NEXT and white Gaussian noise present is also addressed     

An Adaptive-Step Sign Algorithm for Fast Convergence of a Data Echo Canceller

This paper proposes an echo cancellation algorithm that can be used for full-duplex digital data transmission over existing twisted-pair cables. The proposed algorithm is a form of the "sign algorithm." A new adaptation method is introduced to change the canceller step size according to the residual echo level by using the correlation between the echo and the error signal. The adaptation method can increase the echo canceller convergence speed by an order of magnitude over the conventional sign algorithm. An echo canceller utilizing the proposed algorithm is suitable for VLSI implementation, because it requires no multibits analog-to-digital converter. Theoretical analysis and parameter optimization are carried out. The rapid convergence property of the algorithm is verified by computer simulation as well as experiments.     

10 Gb/s adaptive receive-side merged near-end and far-end crosstalk cancellation circuitry in 65 nm CMOS

Crosstalk between neighboring channels can have significant impact on system bit-error rate (BER) as serial I/O data rates scale above 10 Gb/s. This paper presents receive-side circuitry which merges the cancellation of both near-end and far-end crosstalk (NEXT/FEXT) and can automatically adapt to different channel environments and variations in process, voltage, and temperature. NEXT cancellation is realized with a novel 3-tap FIR filter which combines two traditional FIR filter taps and a continuous-time band-pass filter IIR tap for efficient crosstalk cancellation, with all filter tap coefficients automatically determined via an on-die sign–sign least-mean-square (SS-LMS) adaptation engine. FEXT cancellation is realized by coupling the aggressor signal through a differentiator circuit whose gain is automatically adjusted with a power-detection-based adaptation loop. A prototype fabricated in a general purpose 65-nm CMOS process includes the adaptive NEXT and FEXT circuitry, along with a continuous-time linear equalizer (CTLE) to compensate for frequency-dependent channel loss. Enabling the crosstalk cancellation circuitry while operating at 10 Gb/s over coupled 4-in FR4 transmission line channels with NEXT and FEXT aggressors opens a previously closed eye and allows for a 0.2 UI timing margin at a BER = 10^?9. Total power including the NEXT/FEXT crosstalk cancellation circuitry, CTLE, and high-speed output buffer is 34.6 mW, and the core circuit area occupies 0.3 mm².     

Improving secret key generation for wireless communications in FDD mode

Most recent research on channel‐based key generation oriented to time division duplex system because the channel reciprocity feature is applied directly for secret key generation. Most of commercial cellular systems depend on frequency division duplex (FDD) systems. In this paper, we investigate the impact of uplink and downlink of FDD systems for the generation of shared secret keys between two parties in the presents of passive eavesdropper. In addition, we are considering improving the rate of the secret key for wireless communication in FDD mode. The main idea is to use the fading coefficient of the channels between the relay and other parties as an additional random common source for the secret key generation. Also, explore the using of channel estimation techniques to reduce the channel training sequence and study its effect on the generation of shared key for wireless communications in FDD mode. We derive the upper bound of the generated shared key rate for four scenarios and give numerical examples to reveal the performance of our suggested improvement approaches.     

Performance analysis of Viterbi detection of class IV partialresponse for data transmission over multipair cables

Partial response class-IV signaling combined with Viterbi decoding to perform maximum-likelihood sequence detection is considered for high-speed data transmission over twisted-pair cables. In order to establish which data rates and distances can be achieved by this method, a performance evaluation is conducted. Binary and quaternary modulations are considered, and disturbance of the received signal by near-end and far-end crosstalk and additive white Gaussian noise is taken into account. A benchmark comparison with rigorously optimized symbol-by-symbol detection systems using AMI and HDB3 line coding is presented     

Joint signaling strategies for approaching the capacity oftwisted-pair channels

A technique is presented for jointly optimizing the signaling in the two directions of transmission on a twisted-pair communications channel. It is then applied to twisted-pair channel models with monotonic channel response and crosstalk transfer functions. While the signaling strategy presented in this paper can achieve only a lower bound on the true channel capacity, it is a significant improvement over existing signaling schemes. In particular, in contrast with existing schemes, the maximum information rate for the joint signaling strategy increases without bound as the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) approaches infinity. It is also shown through numerical results that the proposed signaling strategy generalizes naturally to more practical nonmonotonic twisted-pair channel models incorporating bridge taps and other nonidealities. Finally, the form of the optimal signaling strategy suggests a relatively straightforward implementation using multicarrier modulation     

Asymptotic S/N results for an adaptive polyspectral canceller usingsample matrix inversion

An adaptive polyspectral canceller configuration is defined, whereby auxiliary canceller channels are formed using distinct monomial expressions of the auxiliary sensor channels. If noises in the auxiliary canceller channels are correlated with the noise in a main channel, then improvement in output signal-to-noise (S/N) power ratio is possible by cancelling in linear fashion the correlated auxiliary canceller channels with the main channel. The convergence performance of the polyspectral canceller is analyzed. A simple expression is derived for the asymptotic S/N efficiency of the adaptive polyspectral canceller as a function of the number of independent input sample vectors used to calculate the adaptive canceller weights and other canceller/noise model parameters. It is shown by simulation for low-order polyspectral cancellers of a specific form with Gaussian inputs that this asymptotic expression is a good approximation of the actual S/N efficiency for a moderate number of input sample vectors. However, for moderate-to-high order polyspectral cancellers, the asymptotic expression is a poor indicator of performance     

An adaptive canceller of cochannel interference for spread-spectrummultiple-access communication networks in a power line

The authors propose and investigate an adaptive canceller of intersymbol and cochannel interference due to channel distortion and cross-correlation among pseudonoise sequences assigned to individual users of a DS-SSMA (direct-sequence spread-spectrum multiple-access) system. In order to implement a local area network (LAN) by using a power line installed in a building wall as a transmission channel, the authors have investigated utilization of DS-SSMA which has advantages such as robustness against narrow-band interference and noise and realization of asynchronous code division multiple access. In a power line, however, restriction of transmission bandwidth for communications makes it difficult to suppress cochannel interference and the channel is also time-varying due to fluctuation of loads. Since the proposed canceller adaptively eliminates cochannel interference as well as intersymbol interference, it can facilitate synchronization and increase the number of the simultaneously accessing users on a power line with restricted processing gain. The error probability in the output of the canceller is theoretically calculated for the steady-state case by using a Markov model. Computer simulations illustrate stable convergence properties of the canceller