Hani Mehrpouyan

Timing and Carrier Synchronization With Channel Estimation in Multi-Relay Cooperative Networks

Multiple distributed nodes in cooperative networks generally are subject to multiple carrier frequency offsets (MCFOs) and multiple timing offsets (MTOs), which result in time varying channels and erroneous decoding. This paper seeks to develop estimation and detection algorithms that enable cooperative communications for both decode-and-forward (DF) and amplify-and-forward (AF) relaying networks in the presence of MCFOs, MTOs, and unknown channel gains. A novel transceiver structure at the relays for achieving synchronization in AF-relaying networks is proposed. New exact closed-form expressions for the Cramer-Rao lower bounds (CRLBs) for the multi-parameter estimation problem are derived. Next, two iterative algorithms based on the expectation conditional maximization (ECM) and space-alternating generalized expectation-maximization (SAGE) algorithms are proposed for jointly estimating MCFOs, MTOs, and channel gains at the destination. Though the global convergence of the proposed ECM and SAGE estimators cannot be shown analytically, numerical simulations indicate that through appropriate initialization the proposed algorithms can estimate channel and synchronization impairments in a few iterations. Finally, a maximum likelihood (ML) decoder is devised for decoding the received signal at the destination in the presence of MCFOs and MTOs. Simulation results show that through the application of the proposed estimation and decoding methods, cooperative systems result in significant performance gains even in presence of impairments.

Bounds and Algorithms for Multiple Frequency Offset Estimation in Cooperative Networks

The distributed nature of cooperative networks may result in multiple carrier frequency offsets (CFOs), which make the channels time varying and overshadow the diversity gains promised by collaborative communications. This paper seeks to address multiple CFO estimation using training sequences in space-division multiple access (SDMA) cooperative networks. The system model and CFO estimation problem for cases of both decode-and-forward (DF) and amplify-and-forward (AF) relaying are formulated and new closed-form expressions for the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) for both protocols are derived. The CRLBs are then applied in a novel way to formulate training sequence design guidelines and determine the effect of network protocol and topology on CFO estimation. Next, two computationally efficient iterative estimators are proposed that determine the CFOs from multiple simultaneously relaying nodes. The proposed algorithms reduce multiple CFO estimation complexity without sacrificing bandwidth and training performance. Unlike existing multiple CFO estimators, the proposed estimators are also accurate for both large and small CFO values. Numerical results show that the new methods outperform existing algorithms and reach or approach the CRLB at mid-to-high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). When applied to system compensation, simulation results show that the proposed estimators significantly reduce average-bit-error-rate (ABER).

Hybrid millimeter-wave systems: a novel paradigm for hetnets

Heterogeneous networks, HetNets, are known to enhance the bandwidth efficiency and throughput of wireless networks by more effectively utilizing the network resources. However, the higher density of users and access points in HetNets introduces significant inter-user interference that needs to be mitigated through complex and sophisticated interference cancellation schemes. Moreover, due to significant channel attenuation and the presence of hardware impairments, e.g. phase noise and amplifier nonlinearities, the vast bandwidth in the millimeterwave band has not been fully utilized to date. In order to enable the development of multi-Gigabit per second wireless networks, we introduce a novel millimeter-wave HetNet paradigm, termed hybrid HetNet, which exploits the vast bandwidth and propagation characteristics in the 60 GHz and 70-80 GHz bands to reduce the impact of interference in HetNets. Simulation results are presented to illustrate the performance advantage of hybrid HetNets with respect to traditional networks. Next, two specific transceiver structures that enable hand-offs from the 60 GHz band, i.e. the V-band to the 70-80 GHz band, i.e. the E-band, and vice versa are proposed. Finally, the practical and regulatory challenges for establishing a hybrid HetNet are outlined.

Improving bandwidth efficiency in E-band communication systems

The allocation of a large amount of bandwidth by regulating bodies in the 70/80 GHz band, that is, the E-band, has opened up new potentials and challenges for providing affordable and reliable gigabit-per-second wireless point-to-point links. This article first reviews the available bandwidth and licensing regulations in the E-band. Subsequently, different propagation models (e.g., the ITU-R and Cane models) are compared against measurement results, and it is concluded that to meet specific availability requirements, E-band wireless systems may need to be designed with larger fade margins compared to microwave systems. A similar comparison is carried out between measurements and models for oscillator phase noise. It is confirmed that phase noise characteristics, which are neglected by the models used for narrowband systems, need to be taken into account for the wideband systems deployed in the E-band. Next, a new MIMO transceiver design, termed continuous aperture phased (CAP)-MIMO, is presented. Simulations show that CAP-MIMO enables E-band systems to achieve fiber-optic-like throughputs. Finally, it is argued that full-duplex relaying can be used to greatly enhance the coverage of E-band systems without sacrificing throughput, thus facilitating their application in establishing the backhaul of heterogeneous networks.

ARMA Synthesis of Fading Channels

Computationally scalable and accurate estimation, prediction, and simulation of wireless communication channels is critical to the development of more adaptive transceiver algorithms. Previously, the application of autoregressive moving average (ARMA) modeling to fading processes has been complicated by ill-conditioning and nonlinear parameter estimation. This correspondence presents a numerically stable and accurate method to synthesize ARMA rational approximations of correlated Rayleigh fading processes from more complex higher order representations. Here, the problem is decomposed into autoregressive (AR) model matching followed by linear system identification. Performance is compared to that of AR, inverse discrete Fourier transform, and sum of sinusoids techniques. Also, for the first time, the finite-precision performance of different methods is compared.

Channel, Phase Noise, and Frequency Offset in OFDM Systems: Joint Estimation, Data Detection, and Hybrid Cramér-Rao Lower Bound

Oscillator phase noise (PHN) and carrier frequency offset (CFO) can adversely impact the performance of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems, since they can result in inter carrier interference and rotation of the signal constellation. In this paper, we propose an expectation conditional maximization (ECM) based algorithm for joint estimation of channel, PHN, and CFO in OFDM systems. We present the signal model for the estimation problem and derive the hybrid Cramér-Rao lower bound (HCRB) for the joint estimation problem. Next, we propose an iterative receiver based on an extended Kalman filter for joint data detection and PHN tracking. Numerical results show that, compared to existing algorithms, the performance of the proposed ECM-based estimator is closer to the derived HCRB and outperforms the existing estimation algorithms at moderate-to-high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In addition, the combined estimation algorithm and iterative receiver are more computationally efficient than existing algorithms and result in improved average uncoded and coded bit error rate (BER) performance.

On models, bounds, and estimation algorithms for time-varying phase noise

In this paper, a new discrete-time model of phase noise for digital communication systems, based on a continuous-time representation of time-varying phase noise is derived and its statistical characteristics are presented. The proposed phase noise model is shown to be more accurate than the classical Wiener model. Next, using the this model, non-data-aided (NDA) and decision-directed (DD) maximum-likelihood (ML) estimators of time-varying phase noise are derived. To evaluate the performance of the proposed estimators, the Cramér-Rao lower bound (CRLB) for each estimation approach is derived and by using Monte-Carlo simulations it is shown that the mean-square error (MSE) of the proposed estimators converges to the CRLB at moderate signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). Finally, simulation results show that the proposed estimators outperform existing estimation methods as the variance of the phase noise process increases.

Transceiver Design for Distributed STBC Based AF Cooperative Networks in the Presence of Timing and Frequency Offsets

In multi-relay cooperative systems, the signal at the destination is affected by impairments such as multiple channel gains, multiple timing offsets (MTOs), and multiple carrier frequency offsets (MCFOs). In this paper we account for all these impairments and propose a new transceiver structure at the relays and a novel receiver design at the destination in distributed space-time block code (DSTBC) based amplify-and-forward (AF) cooperative networks. The Cramér-Rao lower bounds and a least squares (LS) estimator for the multi-parameter estimation problem are derived. In order to significantly reduce the receiver complexity at the destination, a differential evolution (DE) based estimation algorithm is applied and the initialization and constraints for the convergence of the proposed DE algorithm are investigated. In order to detect the signal from multiple relays in the presence of unknown channels, MTOs, and MCFOs, novel optimal and sub-optimal minimum mean-square error receiver designs at the destination node are proposed. Simulation results show that the proposed estimation and compensation methods achieve full diversity gain in the presence of channel and synchronization impairments in multi-relay AF cooperative networks.

Synchronization in Cooperative Networks: Estimation of Multiple Carrier Frequency Offsets

The distributed nature of cooperative networks may result in multiple carrier frequency offsets (CFOs), which make the channel time-varying and overshadow the performance gains promised by collaborative communications. However, much of the analysis in the area of cooperative communications assumes perfect synchronization. This paper seeks to address frequency synchronization in cooperative communication systems, where CFO estimation using a training sequence is analyzed. The Cramer- Rao lower bound (CRLB) for various cooperative protocols is derived. In the next step, we propose two computationally efficient iterative estimators based on the MUltiple SIgnal Characterization (MUSIC) algorithm, that can estimate the CFOs from all the relays simultaneously. Unlike existing multiple CFO estimation algorithms, the proposed estimators are effective and accurate in the presence of both large and small CFO values and numerical and simulation results show that both methods outperform the existing algorithms and reach the CRLB at mid-to-high signal to noise ratio.

Estimation, Training, and Effect of Timing Offsets in Distributed Cooperative Networks

Successful collaboration in cooperative networks require accurate estimation of multiple timing offsets. When combined with signal processing algorithms the estimated timing offsets can be applied to mitigate the resulting inter-symbol interference (ISI). This paper seeks to address timing synchronization in distributed multi-relay amplify-and-forward (AF) and decode-and-forward (DF) relaying networks, where timing offset estimation using a training sequence is analyzed. First, training sequence design guidelines are presented that are shown to result in improved estimation performance. Next, two iterative estimators are derived that can determine multiple timing offsets at the destination. The proposed estimators have a considerably lower computational complexity while numerical results demonstrate that they are accurate and reach or approach the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB).