Carrier frequency offset

Abstract: This paper discusses the effects of frequency offset on the performance of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) digital communications. The main problem with frequency offset is that it introduces interference among the multiplicity of carriers in the OFDM signal. It is shown, and confirmed by simulation, that to maintain signal-to-interference ratios of 20 dB or greater for the OFDM carriers, offset is limited to 4% or less of the intercarrier spacing. Next, the paper describes a technique to estimate frequency offset using a repeated data symbol. A maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) algorithm is derived and its performance computed and compared with simulation results. Since the intercarrier interference energy and signal energy both contribute coherently to the estimate, the algorithm generates extremely accurate estimates even when the offset is far too great to demodulate the data values. Also, the estimation error depends only on total symbol energy so it is insensitive to channel spreading and frequency selective fading. A strategy is described for initial acquisition in the event of uncertainty in the initial offset that exceeds 1/2 the carrier spacing, the limit of the MLE algorithm. >

Abstract: We present the joint maximum likelihood (ML) symbol-time and carrier-frequency offset estimator in orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. Redundant information contained within the cyclic prefix enables this estimation without additional pilots. Simulations show that the frequency estimator may be used in a tracking mode and the time estimator in an acquisition mode.

Abstract: In this contribution the transmission of M-PSK and M-QAM modulated orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) signals over an additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel is considered. The degradation of the bit error rate (BER), caused by the presence of carrier frequency offset and carrier phase noise is analytically evaluated. It is shown that for a given BER degradation, the values of the frequency offset and the linewidth of the carrier generator that are allowed for OFDM are orders of magnitude smaller than for single carrier systems carrying the same bit rate. >

Abstract: A simple method, based on elementary fourth-order cumulants, is proposed for the classification of digital modulation schemes. These statistics are natural in this setting as they characterize the shape of the distribution of the noisy baseband I and Q samples. It is shown that cumulant-based classification is particularly effective when used in a hierarchical scheme, enabling separation into subclasses at low signal-to-noise ratio with small sample size. Thus, the method can be used as a preliminary classifier if desired. Computational complexity is order N, where N is the number of complex baseband data samples. This method is robust in the presence of carrier phase and frequency offsets and can be implemented recursively. Theoretical arguments are verified via extensive simulations and comparisons with existing approaches.