A hybrid joint ML technique for CFO,timing offset,and channel estimations in an OFDMA uplink

In this paper, we propose a novel hybrid joint maximum‐likelihood estimator for carrier frequency offset (CFO), timing offset, and channel response of all users in the uplink of an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system. The proposed estimation method significantly reduces complexity of this multiparameter, multidimensional optimization problem, using the concept of separation of the different user signals by means of newly defined projection operators. This projection technique is combined with the alternating projection method available in the literature to arrive at a new hybrid algorithm that offers significant performance advantages in terms of computational complexity and estimator performance. The joint estimation of the CFOs, timing offsets, and channel coefficients for all active users together at the base station of the OFDMA uplink is a rarely addressed task. The proposed method also offers the flexibility of application to any subcarrier assignment scheme used in OFDMA systems. Extensive simulation studies corroborate the advantages of the new hybrid method for all three estimation requirements in the multiuser OFDMA uplink. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Non-Pilot Aided Iterative Carrier Frequency Offset Estimator Using Optimal Filtering for an Interleaved OFDMA Uplink System

In an uplink transmission of a coded orthogonal frequency division multiple access (C-OFDMA) system, channel estimation, time and frequency synchronization has to be addressed. For this purpose a control data, i.e. a known training sequence called “preamble” and pilot sub-carriers are used. As an alternative to the classic scheme and in order to maximize the data rate, we propose a non-pilot aided estimator based on an iterative architecture that does not require pilot sub-carriers. Our approach combines 1/ the so-called minimum mean square error successive detector to estimate the signal sent by each user 2/ a recursive method estimating the CFOs. Various algorithms such as the extended Kalman filter, the sigma-point Kalman filters and the extended H _∞ filter are tested and their performances are compared in terms of convergence speed and estimation accuracy. When considering an interleaved OFDMA uplink system over a Rayleigh fading channel, simulation results clearly show the efficiency of the proposed algorithm in terms of CFO estimation and bit error rate performances.     

Timing and frequency synchronization for the uplink of an OFDMA system

This paper deals with timing and frequency recovery for the uplink of an orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) system. The frequency estimator is derived from ad hoc reasoning, whereas the timing estimator is based on the maximum-likelihood criterion. Both schemes rely on the repetition of a fixed pilot symbol. Their main feature is that they provide feedforward estimates and allow synchronization in only two OFDM blocks. In contrast to other existing methods, they do not require that the subcarriers of a given user occupy adjacent positions in the signal bandwidth. This makes it possible to interleave subcarriers of different users so as to optimally exploit the frequency diversity of the channel. Theoretical analysis and computer simulations are used to assess the performance of the proposed synchronizers. It is found that the degradations due to residual frequency and timing errors are negligible at signal-to-noise ratios of practical interest.     

一种基于PN序列的OFDMA上行链路参数估计和信号检测方法

该文研究了OFDMA上行链路的频偏信道参数估计和信号检测问题,设计了一种OFDMA上行链路发射信号帧结构,信号帧的帧头由PN序列构成;提出了基于PN序列的频偏信道参数估计算法;并根据频偏信道参数采用时域最小均方误差检测算法进行信号检测。仿真表明:该文提出的频偏信道估计算法充分利用PN序列的相关特性,具有良好的抗噪特性、衰落信道适应性和高的估计精度;而时域最小均方误差信号检测算法也具有较好的误比特率性能。     

Firefly Algorithm for Joint Estimation of Frequency Offsets and Channel in OFDMA Uplink

This paper addresses the problem of joint maximum-likelihood estimation of carrier frequency offsets, and channel responses in an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) uplink, which is a computationally-intensive, multiparameter, multidimensional problem. We propose to apply a recently-developed meta-heuristic algorithm called the firefly algorithm (FA) for the estimation of required parameters. We also introduce a new initialization procedure for the FA algorithm based on the separability of cost functions, which drastically reduces its computational complexity. A separate pilot OFDMA symbol is transmitted prior to the data symbols to estimate the parameters. The proposed technique is shown to achieve excellent performance at reduced computational complexity, especially at low signal-to-noise ratio. Also, it can be applied to OFDMA systems with any type of carrier assignment schemes. The significant features of the proposed estimation method are substantiated through extensive computer simulation studies and are compared with an important classical estimation technique available for the problem, to highlight its superiority.     

A simple iterative carrier frequency synchronization technique for OFDMA uplink transmissions

This paper examines the carrier frequency offset (CFO) estimation problem in the tile‐based orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) uplink systems, which is very challenging due to the presence of multiple CFOs. The existing solutions to this problem are either too complex to implement or not flexible in subcarrier allocation. To solve these problems, this paper proposes a tile‐structure based iterative multi‐CFO estimation technique. The proposed method is developed based on a special training sequence with repetitive structure. The inherent multi‐user interference (MUI) compression provided by the tile structure allows us to utilize the repetitive property of the training sequence to jointly estimate the CFOs in the frequency domain with low complexity. Combining the CFO estimation with an interference cancellation scheme and performing iteratively, the algorithm achieves high estimation accuracy and fast convergence. The proposed algorithm is suitable for any subcarrier assignment schemes. In addition, as compared with other existing time domain based algorithms, which achieve the Cramer Rao Bound (CRB) at the price of unaffordable complexity, it closely approaches their performance with over 70% computational saving, which is significantly important for practical implementation. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Asymptotically Efficient Reduced Complexity Frequency Offset and Channel Estimators for Uplink MIMO-OFDMA Systems

In this paper, we address the joint data-aided estimation of frequency offsets and channel coefficients in uplink multiple-input multiple-output orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (MIMO-OFDMA) systems. As the maximum-likelihood (ML) estimator is impractical in this context, we introduce a family of suboptimal estimators with the aim of exhibiting an attractive tradeoff between performance and complexity. The estimators do not rely on a particular subcarrier assignment scheme and are, thus, valid for a large number of OFDMA systems. As far as complexity is concerned, the computational cost of the proposed estimators is shown to be significantly reduced compared to existing estimators based on ML. As far as performance is concerned, the proposed suboptimal estimators are shown to be asymptotically efficient, i.e., the covariance matrix of the estimation error achieves the Cramer-Rao bound when the total number of subcarriers increases. Simulation results sustain our claims.     

A high performance baseband transceiver for SISO-/MIMO-OFDA uplink communications

In this paper, a single-input single-output-/multipleinput multiple-output- (SISO-/MIMO-) OFDMA uplink baseband transceiver based on IEEE 802.16e-2005 is proposed. To compensate for the interference of carrier frequency offset (CFO), an inter-carrier interference-based (ICI-cancellationbased) CFO estimator in conjunction with channel estimation and MIMO detector is proposed. Moreover, a low complexity solution for implementation is also provided. Simulation results show that the mean-square-error (MSE) performance of the proposed CFO estimator can be reduced to about one tenth compared to other methods and the bit-error-rate (BER) performance of the proposed transceiver is quite close to that of an ideal system that doesn?t include CFO compensation.     

Iterative Joint Detection, Decoding, and Channel Estimation in Turbo-Coded MIMO-OFDM

An iterative receiver for a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) system is considered to jointly decode the transmitted bits and estimate the channel state. The receiver consists of a list detector, a turbo decoder, and a channel estimator that is based on the space-alternating generalized expectation-maximization (SAGE) algorithm. This paper proposes a way to improve the convergence of the iterative detection and decoding by using a priori information to also recalculate the candidate list, aside from the log-likelihood ratios (LLRs) of the coded bits. A new list parallel interference cancellation (PIC) detector is derived to approximate an a posteriori probability (APP) algorithm with reduced complexity and minimal losses of performance. Furthermore, the organization of spectrally efficient decision-directed (DD) SAGE channel estimation under a constrained number of detector-decoder iterations is optimized by computer simulations, and the SAGE algorithm itself is modified for nonconstant envelope constellations. The list recalculation is shown to improve convergence. It is also shown that the list PIC detector with good initialization outperforms the K-best list sphere detector (LSD) in the case of small list sizes, whereas the complexities of the algorithms are of the same order. Despite the low preamble density and fast-fading channel, the proposed iterative receiver shows robust performance.     

OFDMA系统上行链路频偏的盲估计

本文介绍了直接数字频率合成技术DDS(Direct Digital Frequency Synthesizers)工作原理,分析了其理想频谱;采用信号分析的方法深入研究了DDS存在相位截断和幅度量化时引入的杂散信号频谱分布的规律和性能;定性讨论了DAC非理想性对DDS输出杂散谱的影响.最后进行计算机仿真分析并验证了结论.所得规律性结论为DDS设计和工程应用开发中的参数选取、杂散评估和杂散抑制提供重要的理论依据和经验参考.     

Preamble and Pilot Design with Computationally Efficient Synchronization and Cell Search Algorithms in Cellular OFDM Systems

A computationally efficient initial synchronization technique is introduced in cellular orthogonal frequency division multiplexing downlink systems, which includes symbol timing estimation, frequency offset estimation, frame synchronization, and cell search. Novel preamble and pilot structures are proposed and a simple three-step synchronization scheme is developed based on a variety of practical conditions such as low computational complexity, time-varying frequency selective fading, limited preamble length, low peak-to-average-power ratio, and noncoherent synchronization with no channel estimation. The proposed three-step synchronization is sequentially described as (1) joint timing and frequency synchronization, (2) frame synchronization and preamble pattern identification (ID), and (3) pilot group ID. Simulation results show that the proposed technique nicely works even at low signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio regions.     

Carrier Frequency Offset estimation for interleaved OFDMA uplink based on subspace processing

This paper investigates Carrier Frequency Offset （CFO）, estimation in the uplink of the Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access （OFDMA） systems with the interleaved subcarrier assignment. CFOs between the transmitters and the uplink receiver will destroy orthogonality among different subcarriers, hence resulting in inter-carrier interference and multiuser interference. A two-stage frequency offset estimation algorithm based on subspace processing is proposed. The main advantage of the proposed method is that it can obtain the CFOs of all users simultaneously using only one OFDMA block. Compared with the previously known methods, it not only has a relatively low implementation complexity but is also suitable for random subchannel assignment.     

Turbo Estimation and Equalization for Asynchronous Uplink MC-CDMA

In this contribution, we propose a new code-aided synchronization and channel estimation algorithm for uplink MC-CDMA. The space alternating generalized expectation- maximization (SAGE) algorithm is used to estimate the channel impulse responses, propagation delays and carrier frequency offsets of the different users. The estimator, multi-user detector, equalizer, demapper and channel decoder exchange soft information in an iterative way. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated through Monte Carlo simulations. Impressive performance gains are visible as compared to a conventional data-aided estimation scheme.     

OFDM Carrier Frequency Offset Estimation Methods With Improved Performance

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems are highly sensitive to carrier frequency offset and symbol timing error. This paper deals with estimation method of integer frequency offset (IFO) without the aid of pilot symbols. The proposed IFO estimator exploits two consecutive identical OFDM data symbols with only change of phase. In order to improve the accuracy of the IFO estimator, receive diversity is adopted. To demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed IFO estimators, comparisons are made with other existing estimators in terms of error performance, estimation range, and complexity.     

Joint Maximum-Likelihood CFO and Channel Estimation for OFDMA Uplink Using Importance Sampling

In this paper, the optimal carrier frequency offset (CFO) and channel estimator for an orthogonal frequency-division multiple-access (OFDMA) uplink based on a joint maximum-likelihood (ML) criterion is derived. Direct implementation of the resultant estimation scheme is challenging due to the need for a multidimensional exhaustive search in multi-CFO estimation. To solve this problem, an optimization theorem is exploited, and a computationally efficient method using an importance sampling technique is proposed. Without the need to provide an initial estimate, the proposed estimator guarantees the generation of the global optimal solution. Simulation results clearly verify the effectiveness of the proposed estimation scheme.      

Cramér-Rao Bound for SAGE-based Residual Frequency Offset Estimation Algorithm in OFDM Systems

The Cramér-Rao bound (CRB) is a powerful tool in estimation theory as it gives a performance lower bound for parameter estimation problems. In this paper, a much tighter CRB for Lee’s residual frequency offset (RFO) estimation method (IEEE Transactions on Communications 54:765, 2006) is first given. The tighter low bound is obtained by considering the ICI that affects the performance of space-alternating generalized expectation-maximization (SAGE) based RFO estimator. It can be concluded that the performance of SAGE based RFO estimation method decreases as the normalized RFO increases and increases with the increasing of signal-to-noise (SNR). Simulation results show that the proposed CRB of SAGE based RFO estimator is extremely tight. It approximates closely the MSE performance obtained by Monte Carlo simulation.     

An uplink resource allocation scheme for OFDMA‐based cognitive radio networks

Cognitive radio makes it possible for an unlicensed user to access a spectrum unoccupied by licensed users. In cognitive radio networks, extra constraints on interference temperature need to be introduced into radio resource allocation. In this paper, the uplink radio resource allocation is investigated for OFDMA‐based cognitive radio networks. In consideration of the characteristics of cognitive radio and OFDMA, an improved water‐filling power allocation scheme is proposed under the interference temperature constraints for optimal performance. Based on the improved water‐filling power allocation, a simple subcarrier allocation algorithm for uplink is proposed. The subcarrier allocation rules are obtained by theoretical deduction. In the uplink subcarrier allocation algorithm, the subcarriers are allocated to the users with the best channel quality initially and then adjusted to improve the system performance. A cursory water‐filling level estimation method is used to decrease the complexity of the algorithm. Asymptotic performance analysis gives a lower bound of the stability of the water‐filling level estimation. The complexity and performance of the proposed radio resource allocation scheme are investigated by theoretical analysis and numerical results. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Joint Estimation of the Timing and Frequency Offset for Uplink OFDMA

Inheriting all the advantages of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), plus the ability to offer a fine level of bit granularity and dynamic subcarrier allocation for multiuser diversity, the Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) has emerged as a potential candidate for multiple access technique for future broadband wireless networks. However, the benefits of OFDMA come with stringent requirements on synchronization, especially in the uplink. Unless the timing offsets (TOs) and carrier frequency offsets (CFOs) among users in the uplink are kept under tolerable ranges, inter-symbol interference (ISI), inter-channel interference (ICI) and multi-user interference (MUI) will occur, which degrade the overall system performance severely. Accurate estimation of TOs and CFOs is required for each user, so that they can be accounted for at the user’s side or compesated for at the base station. This paper proposes a novel method to estimate jointly TOs and CFOs in the time-domain for multi-user in the OFDMA uplink. The method is shown to offer good accuracy, while maintaining a reasonable complexity compared to conventional estimation schemes.     

基于数据重构MNM的交织型OFDMA上行链路频偏盲估计

正交频分多址(OFDMA)系统同步问题的难点在于上行链路的频率同步,本文针对子载波交织分配的OFDMA系统上行链路,利用数据重构,提出一种基于MNM(Minimum-norm Method)算法的载波频偏盲估计算法,利用接收信号的周期性特点,在一个符号周期内以较小的计算量完成对各个用户的载波频偏估计.