Unified error probability analysis for generalized selectioncombining in Nakagami fading channels

We study generalized selection combining (GSC) schemes in independent Nakagami fading channels, where N diversity branches with the largest instantaneous signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) are selected from the total of L (N⩽L) branches and then coherently or noncoherently combined. We propose two different techniques to derive the moment generating function (MGF) expressions for the GSC output SNR in generalized Nakagami fading channels, where there are distinct and noninteger fading severity parameters, as well as different average SNRs in different diversity branches. For arbitrary fading severity parameter m_k, k=1, ···L, the MGF expression is given in a summation of N-dimensional definite integrals with the limits independent of SNR or channel parameters, and therefore can be evaluated very efficiently with numerical methods. Furthermore, for integer m_k closed-form MGF expressions are derived. Specializations of our results to Rayleigh channels and independent identically distributed (i.i.d.) Nakagami channels are presented, which are either new or equivalent to previously published results. Using the newly derived MGF expression, we provide a unified error probability analysis for many coherent and noncoherent modulation/detection schemes     

Outage probability of SC receiver over exponentially correlated K fading channels

A mathematical expression for the outage probability of a selection combining diversity receiver with an arbitrary number of input branches is presented for exponentially correlated K fading channels. Numerical and simulation results are plotted and the effect of correlation, number of diversity branches and fading parameter on the outage performance of the receiver is studied. Results suggest that a correlation coefficient less than 0.5 may be used in practice.     

MQAM Performance over Nakagami channels with diversity

This paper presents the error probability performance for M-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (mqam) signalling with L-branch diversity receiver over Nakagami fading channel. Both maximal ratio combining (mrc) and selection diversity combining (sdc) techniques are considered with reference to predetection diversity architecture, in the case of integer values of fading severity and independent fading. Average symbol error probability is analitycally derived in terms of finite sum of Gauss hypergeometric functions for balanced branches with identical values of the fading severity. In particular, performance analysis of sdc for mqam in Nakagami fading is new since it has not been presented in any previous work. Numerical results are presented allowing to identify those operational conditions in which diversity techniques can aid successfully in counteracting the effects of slow and nonselective short-term fading.     

Performance analysis of SIR-based dual selection diversity over correlated Nakagami-m fading channels

Signal-to-interference-ratio (SIR)-based selection diversity is an efficient technique to mitigate fading and cochannel interference in wireless communications systems. An approach to the performance analysis of dual SIR-based selection diversity over correlated Nakagami-m fading channels with arbitrary parameters is presented. Useful formulae for the outage probability, the average output SIR, and the average error probability for coherent, noncoherent, and multilevel modulation schemes are derived. The main contribution of the paper is that, for the first time, the proposed analysis is carried out assuming correlated Nakagami-m fading with arbitrary parameters for both the desired signals and the cochannel interferers, which is the real scenario in practical dual selection diversity systems with insufficient antenna spacing. It is shown that the presented general results reduce to the specific ones for the independent fading case, previously published. Numerical and simulation results are also presented to show the effects of various parameters, such as the fading severity, input SIR unbalance, and level of correlation, to the system's performance.     

Compact formulas for the average error performance of noncoherent m-ary orthogonal signals over generalized rician, nakagami-m, and nakagami-q fading channels with diversity reception

This paper derives exact expressions for the average error performance of M-ary orthogonal signals with noncoherent equal-gain diversity combining over nonidentical generalized Rician, Nakagami-m, Nakagami-g, and implicitly Rayleigh fading channels. The assumption of generalized distributed fading envelopes implies that the received average signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and/or the fading parameters can have arbitrary nonidentical values. The derived expressions are precisely given in terms of either one-fold integral or rapidly convergent infinite series, which can be readily evaluated numerically. In addition, they can be usefully used to study the impact of arbitrary correlation among diversity branches on the system average error performance.     

Error rates for Nakagami-m fading multichannel reception of binaryand M-ary signals

This paper derives new closed-form formulas for the error probabilities of single and multichannel communications in Rayleigh and Nakagami-m (1960) fading. Closed-form solutions to three generic trigonometric integrals are presented as part of the main result, providing a unified method for the derivation of exact closed-form average symbol-error probability expressions for binary and M-ary signals with L independent channel diversity reception. Both selection-diversity and maximal-ratio combining (MRC) techniques are considered. The results are generally applicable for arbitrary two-dimensional signal constellations that have polygonal decision regions operating in a slow Nakagami-m fading environments with positive integer fading severity index. MRC with generically correlated fading is also considered. The new expressions are applicable in many cases of practical interest. The closed-form expressions derived for a single channel reception case can be extended to provide an approximation for the error rates of binary and M-ary signals that employ an equal-gain combining diversity receiver     

Performance Analysis of Dual-Branch Selection Combining Over Correlated Rician Fading Channels for Desired Signal and Cochannel Interference

System performances of dual selection combining over fading channels are analyzed. Fading between the diversity branches and between interferences is correlated and Rician distributed. Infinite series expressions for the probability density function, and the cumulative distribution function of the output signal-to-interference ratio are derived, which is the main contribution of this paper. Outage probability and the average bit error probability for noncoherent modulation schemes are also presented. Numerical results, presented in this paper, point out the effects of fading severity and correlation on the system performances.     

Effect of Microdiversity and Macrodiversity on Average Bit Error Probability in Gamma‐Shadowed Rician Fading Channels

In this letter, we analyze the error performance of a mobile communication system with microdiversity and macrodiversity reception in gamma‐shadowed Rician fading channels for a binary differential phase‐shift keying modulation scheme. Analytical expressions for the probability density function (PDF) and moment‐generating function (MGF) are derived. The average bit error probability can be calculated by averaging the conditional bit error probability over the PDF or using the MGF‐based approach. Numerical results are graphically presented to show the effects of macrodiversity, correlation, number of diversity branches, and severity of both fading and shadowing.     

Selection and MRC Diversity for a DS/CDMA Mobile Radio System through Nakagami Fading Channel

Spatial diversity is an attractive technology for coping with the fadingchannels encountered in mobile communications.In this paper, the bit error rate (BER) is analyzed theoretically fordiversity reception with a RAKE receiver in aNakagami fading environment using either selection or maximal ratio combining.A coherent binary phase-shiftkeying (CBPSK) direct sequence code division multiple access (DS/CDMA) systemis considered. An arbitrary branchcorrelation is also considered for any diversity order in the case ofidentical fading severity on the branches.     

New analytical expressions for orthogonal, biorthogonal, and transorthogonal signaling in Nakagami fading channels with diversity reception

Analytical probability of error expressions are presented in this paper for orthogonal, biorthogonal, and transorthogonal signaling in slow Nakagami fading channels with diversity reception. These new probability of error expressions are exact, numerically efficient, and general for arbitrary signal dimension. The numerical results obtained will guide system engineers in determining the appropriate dimensionality of the orthogonal, biorthogonal, and transorthogonal signals. They will also be useful for deciding the suitable number of diversity branches used at the receiver to meet the design requirements in wireless fading environments.     

Virtual branch analysis of symbol error probability for hybridselection/maximal-ratio combining in Rayleigh fading

We derive analytical expressions for the symbol error probability (SEP) for a hybrid selection/maximal-ratio combining (H-S/MRC) diversity system in multipath-fading wireless environments. With H-S/MRC, L out of N diversity branches are selected and combined using maximal-ratio combining (MRC). We consider coherent detection of M-ary phase-shift keying (MPSK) and quadrature amplitude modulation (MQAM) using H-S/MRC for the case of independent Rayleigh fading with equal signal-to-noise ratio averaged over the fading. The proposed problem is made analytically tractable by transforming the ordered physical diversity branches, which are correlated, into independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) “virtual branches,” which results in a simple derivation of the SEP for arbitrary L and N. We further obtain a canonical structure for the SEP of H-S/MRC as a weighted sum of the elementary SEPs, which are the SEPs using MRC with i.i.d. diversity branches in Rayleigh fading, or equivalently the SEPs of the nondiversity (single-branch) system in Nakagami fading, whose closed-form expressions are well-known. We present numerical examples illustrating that H-S/MRC, even with L≪N, can achieve a performance close to that of N-branch MRC     

Approximation of SNR statistics for MRC diversity systems inarbitrarily correlated Nakagami fading channels

An approximated probability density function is presented for the SNR in maximal ratio combining diversity systems with an arbitrary number of diversity branches in an arbitrarily correlated Nakagami fading environment. Comparisons between the exact and approximated distribution show good agreement over wide ranges of correlation coefficients     

Exact BER for M-QAM with MRC and Imperfect Channel Estimation in Rician Fading Channels

In this paper, we study the effect of imperfect channel estimation (ICE) on the performance of M-level quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM) with maximum ratio combining (MRC) and pilot-symbol assisted modulation (PSAM) in generalized Rician fading channels. By expressing the bit error rate (BER) of MRC diversity M-QAM in terms of the distribution of new decision variables, we derive novel, exact, and easy-to-evaluate BER expressions for diversity M-QAM with channel estimation errors. Our results include versatile system and fading channel parameters (e.g., arbitrary spatial and temporal correlation patterns among the diversity branches), and are valid for arbitrary linear channel estimators and square and rectangular M -QAM with different constellation sizes. In addition, we evaluate the performance of minimum mean-squared error (MMSE)- and sinc-interpolator-based channel estimators with PSAM, and provide some new insights into the performance of M-QAM with PSAM in generalized fading channels     

Performance analysis of system with selection combining over correlated Weibull fading channels in the presence of cochannel interference

Selection diversity based on the signal to interference ratio (SIR) is a very efficient technique that reduces fading and channel interference influence. In this paper, system performances of selection combining and correlated Weibull channels are analyzed. Fading between the diversity branches and between interferers is correlated and Weibull distributed. Very useful closed-form expressions are obtained for the output SIR's probability density function (PDF) and cumulative distribution function which is main contribution of this paper. Outage probability, the average output SIR, and the average error probability for coherent, noncoherent modulation are derived. Numerical results presented in this paper point out the effects of fading severity and correlation on the system performances.     

Performance of RAKE receivers in Nakagami fading channel witharbitrary fading parameters

A new expression for the bit error rate of RAKE receivers with either coherent or noncoherent/differentially coherent binary demodulation schemes in a Nakagami fading channel is derived. The analysis assumes an arbitrary number of diversity branches with arbitrary fading parameters     

Performance analysis of triple selection diversity over exponentially correlated Nakagami-m fading channels

An approach to the performance analysis of a triple selection-diversity system over exponentially correlated Nakagami-m fading channels is presented. Closed-form expressions of converged sums for both outage and average error probabilities are derived. Numerical results are presented to point out the effect of the fading correlation, the fading severity, as well as the improvement achieved by the triple selection combining compared with the corresponding dual diversity case.     

Switched Dual Diversity Reception of M-ary DPSK Signals on Nakagami Fading Channels

The paper deals with dual diversity reception of M-ary differential phase-shift keying modulated signals in the presence of additive white Gaussian noise and Nakagami-distributed slow and nonselective fading. The performance of a switched diversity system is analysed and compared to that of the predetection selection diversity combining scheme. The general case of correlated diversity branches is considered, without restrictions on the fading severity parameter. Average symbol error rate formulas are analytically derived in terms of integral expressions that can be easily computed via numerical integration routines. Moreover, the numerical evaluation of the optimum switching threshold is carried out and the influence of the fading severity parameter, the branch correlation, and the cardinality of the symbol alphabet is analysed. Finally, three fixed switching threshold strategies that allow to obtain a satisfactory diversity gain are considered.     

Bit-error-probability for noncoherent orthogonal signals in fadingwith optimum combining for correlated branch diversity

Due to the interest in wireless personal communications, there has been a lot of research on the performance of receivers with diversity. Most analyses assume the diversity branches are independent. This paper presents an analysis of the bit-error probability for receivers in which the diversity branches are correlated. Noncoherent orthogonal digital modulation (NCODM) with Rician and Rayleigh slow, nonselective fading models are assumed. Through the use of the diagonalization of quadratic forms, most of the calculations of the bit-error probability can be reduced to a two-dimensional numerical integration. For some cases for dual diversity, a closed-form expression for the error probability is given. A number of diversity combining laws, including square law and maximum likelihood, are considered. We find that Rician fading can be worse than Rayleigh fading in correlated diversity environments, a situation quite different from the independent diversity case. Also, for the Rayleigh fading model with correlated branch diversity, we find that an equal-weight, square-law combiner usually has the same error performance as the more complex maximum-likelihood combiner. However, this is not the case for a Rician fading model with the same correlation environment. Simple diagonalization methods that compensate for the lossy effect of correlation are specified and found to be effective when the dominant noise and interference have almost the same correlation distribution as the fading signals     

Gaussian class multivariate Weibull distributions: theory and applications in fading channels

Ascertaining on the suitability of the Weibull distribution to model fading channels, a theoretical framework for a class of multivariate Weibull distributions, originated from Gaussian random processes, is introduced and analyzed. Novel analytical expressions for the joint probability density function (pdf), moment-generating function (mgf), and cumulative distribution function (cdf) are derived for the bivariate distribution of this class with not necessarily identical fading parameters and average powers. Two specific distributions with arbitrary number of correlated variates are considered and studied: with exponential and with constant correlation where their pdfs are introduced. Both cases assume equal average fading powers, but not necessarily identical fading parameters. For the multivariate Weibull distribution with exponential correlation, useful corresponding formulas, as for the bivariate case, are derived. The presented theoretical results are applied to analyze the performance of several diversity receivers employed with selection, equal-gain, and maximal-ratio combining (MRC) techniques operating over correlated Weibull fading channels. For these diversity receivers, several useful performance criteria such as the moments of the output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) (including average output SNR and amount of fading) and outage probability are analytically derived. Moreover, the average symbol error probability for several coherent and noncoherent modulation schemes is studied using the mgf approach. The proposed mathematical analysis is complemented by various evaluation results, showing the effects of the fading severity as well as the fading correlation on the diversity receivers performance.     

Second‐order statistics of system with N‐branch microdiversity and L‐branch macrodiversity operating over gamma shadowed Nakagami‐m fading channels

The problem concerning short‐term fading and long‐term fading (shadowing) and their deleterious effects on wireless systems performance has been in focus for a long time. In this paper, motivated by the results of propagation measurements in land‐mobile and indoor‐mobile systems, and by the fact that gamma distribution can describe shadowing reliably, Nakagami‐m distribution is used to model the signal envelope and gamma distribution is used to model the average signal power. Receive diversity with maximal‐ratio combining and selection combining is implemented at the microlevel and macrolevel, respectively. The general case is explored, which assumes that microdiversity and macrodiversity are provided through arbitrary number of channels. Because shadowing has larger correlation distance than short‐term fading, correlated macrodiversity channels are studied. This paper investigates the dynamics of the received signal. A novel rapidly converging infinite‐series expression for average level crossing rate and average fade duration are obtained. Numerical results are graphically presented to examine the impact of fading severity, shadowing severity, number of diversity branches at the microlevel, number of base stations and correlation between base stations to the system's performance. Computer simulations are also performed to verify the validity and the accuracy of proposed theoretical analysis. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.