In this paper we review the most peculiar and interesting information-theoretic and communications features of fading channels. We first describe the statistical models of fading channels which are frequently used in the analysis and design of communication systems. Next, we focus on the information theory of fading channels, by emphasizing capacity as the most important performance measure. Both single-user and multiuser transmission are examined. Further, we describe how the structure of fading channels impacts code design, and finally overview equalization of fading multipath channels.

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Fading channels: information-theoretic and communications aspects

We consider interference suppression for direct-sequence spread-spectrum code-division multiple-access (CDMA) systems using the minimum mean squared error (MMSE) performance criterion. The conventional matched filter receiver suffers from the near-far problem, and requires strict power control (typically involving feedback from receiver to transmitter) for acceptable performance. Multiuser detection schemes previously proposed mitigate the near-far problem, but are complex and require explicit knowledge or estimates of the interference parameters. In this paper, we present and analyze several new MMSE interference suppression schemes, which have the advantage of being near-far resistant (to varying degrees, depending on their complexity), and can be implemented adaptively when interference parameters are unknown and/or time-varying, Numerical results are provided that show that these schemes offer significant performance gains relative to the matched filter receiver. We conclude that MMSE detectors can alleviate the need for stringent power control. In CDMA systems, and may be a practical alternative to the matched filter receiver. >

MMSE interference suppression for direct-sequence spread-spectrum CDMA

The decorrelating detector and the linear minimum mean-square error (MMSE) detector are known to be effective strategies to counter the presence of multiuser interference in code-division multiple-access channels; in particular, those multiuser detectors provide optimum near-far resistance. When training data sequences are available, the MMSE multiuser detector can be implemented adaptively without knowledge of signature waveforms or received amplitudes. This paper introduces an adaptive multiuser detector which converges (for any initialization) to the MMSE detector without requiring training sequences. This blind multiuser detector requires no more knowledge than does the conventional single-user receiver: the desired user's signature waveform and its timing. The proposed blind multiuser detector is made robust with respect to imprecise knowledge of the received signature waveform of the user of interest. >

/pdf/blind-adaptive-multiuser-detection-52f5lehq2j.pdf

Blind adaptive multiuser detection

The CDMA channel with randomly and independently chosen spreading sequences accurately models the situation where pseudonoise sequences span many symbol periods. Furthermore, its analysis provides a comparison baseline for CDMA channels with deterministic signature waveforms spanning one symbol period. We analyze the spectral efficiency (total capacity per chip) as a function of the number of users, spreading gain, and signal-to-noise ratio, and we quantify the loss in efficiency relative to an optimally chosen set of signature sequences and relative to multiaccess with no spreading. White Gaussian background noise and equal-power synchronous users are assumed. The following receivers are analyzed: (a) optimal joint processing, (b) single-user matched filtering, (c) decorrelation, and (d) MMSE linear processing.

/pdf/spectral-efficiency-of-cdma-with-random-spreading-4btfeuvqxo.pdf

Spectral efficiency of CDMA with random spreading

Multiuser receivers improve the performance of spread-spectrum and antenna-array systems by exploiting the structure of the multiaccess interference when demodulating the signal of a user. Much of the previous work on the performance analysis of multiuser receivers has focused on their ability to reject worst case interference. Their performance in a power-controlled network and the resulting user capacity are less well-understood. We show that in a large system with each user using random spreading sequences, the limiting interference effects under several linear multiuser receivers can be decoupled, such that each interferer can be ascribed a level of effective interference that it provides to the user to be demodulated. Applying these results to the uplink of a single power-controlled cell, we derive an effective bandwidth characterization of the user capacity: the signal-to-interference requirements of all the users can be met if and only if the sum of the effective bandwidths of the users is less than the total number of degrees of freedom in the system. The effective bandwidth of a user depends only on its own SIR requirement, and simple expressions are derived for three linear receivers: the conventional matched filter, the decorrelator, and the MMSE receiver. The effective bandwidths under the three receivers serve as a basis for performance comparison.

Linear multiuser receivers: effective interference, effective bandwidth and user capacity

Consideration is given to a class of suboptimum detectors for data transmitted asynchronously by K users employing direct-sequence spread-spectrum multiple access (DS/SSMA) on the additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel. The general structure of these detectors consists of a bank of matched filters, a linear transformation that operates on the matched-filter outputs, and a set of threshold devices. The linear transformations are chosen to minimize either a mean-squared-error or a weighted-squared-error performance criterion. Each detector can be implemented using a tapped delay line. The number of computations performed per detected bit is linear in K in each case, and the resulting detectors are thus much simpler than the optimum detector. Under typical operating conditions, these detectors will perform much better than the conventional receiver and often nearly as well as the optimum detector. >

A family of suboptimum detectors for coherent multiuser communications

J.H. Conway and N.J.A. Sloane (1986) have introduced an algorithm for the exact maximum-likelihood decoding of the Golay (24, 12) code in the additive white Gaussian noise channel that requires significantly fewer computations than previous algorithms. An efficient bit-serial VLSI implementation of this algorithm is described. The design consists of two chips developed using path-programmable logic (PPL) and an associated system of automated design tools for three- mu m NMOS technology. It is estimated that this decoder will produce an information bit every 1.6-2.4 mu s. Higher speeds can be achieved by using a faster technology or by replicating the chips to perform more operations in parallel. >

C.K. Rushforth

Papers

A family of suboptimum detectors for coherent multiuser communications

VLSI implementation of a maximum-likelihood decoder for the Golay (24, 12) code