Chapter

Introduction to Digital Communications: parametric characterization

Digital communications involve discretization in two dierent domains. The rst is a discretization in the domain of the transmitted signals, forming a set with nite cardinality. Digital modulation involves the selection of a specic waveform out of a nite set, while detection requires a decision among dierent hypotheses, in contrast with analog communications where reception requires the estimation of a continuous signal. Secondly, we have the discretization of the domain of symbol emission events, that form a sequence at the symbol rate, i.e., at the inverse of the symbol time interval. Notwithstanding the above, it must be clear that the transmitted waveforms are always continuous functions of time, with continuous derivatives. Let us denote by sm (t; M ) the modulated signal. Besides being a function of time, it depends on a set of parameters related to the selected digital modulation, M , including data, the type of digital constellation, the transmitted power, the impulse shape, etc. By transmitting the signal sm (t; M ) through the propagation channel, we obtain s(t; S ) = F {sm (t; M )} (1.1)

In words, the useful signal becomes s(t; S ) through the linear or non linear

Introduction to Digital Communications

transformation F{}, where S is the entire set of parameters related to the useful signal: S = M P (1.2)

The received useful signal, which in general is a distorted replica of the original signal, is now additionally described by a set of auxiliary parameters, P , which are due to the eects of the transmission channel, such as fading, carrier frequency and/or phase oset, frame and symbol timing misalignment, etc. Distortion is ideally absent if it holds s(t; S ) = A sm (t ; M ) (1.3)

that corresponds to an exact replica of the input except for a factor in amplitude A and a delay . The received signal, r(t; ), is in general the sum of three fundamental components: r(t; ) = s(t; S ) + n(t; N ) + i(t; F ) (1.4)

Evidently, two fundamental sources of disturbance are present: additive noise n(t; N ) and a generic interference contribution i(t; F ), characterized respectively by the parameter sets N and F . If noise is modeled as a zero average white stationary Gaussian process, N contains only the level of the at power spectral density, N0 /2. On the other hand, F contains a large set of parameters, such as the number of interfering users, their frequency, amplitude, phase, etc.. Overall, the received signal is characterized by the set: = S N F (1.5)

so that the receiver works in presence of a large number of unknown parameters, that are necessary for its correct operation. Some parameters may be known a priori, or may be sent through signaling as a side-information; others may be unknown but necessary to extract information, and must be estimated. Finally, some parameters might not be strictly necessary, and the receiver must be simply designed to be robust to their presence as an unknown disturbance. In general, the parameters may be scalars, or vectors, or functionals, with discrete or continuous values. In the discrete case, parameter recovery is

Digital Communications

Prof. Giovanni E. Corazza 3

accomplished following decision theory, while in the continuous case we resort to estimation theory. From the modeling point of view, two main approaches may be followed. The rst consists in making a distinction between deterministic and unknown parameters D and random parameters A , so that = D A (1.6)

The classication of a parameter within either one of the two sets is in reality a design choice. The basic dierence is that for random parameters there exists a complete theory that provides the optimal estimator/detector, while this does not hold in general for deterministic parameters. Nevertheless, the eectiveness of the random model depends strictly on its adherence to physical reality. The deterministic and unknown model is in general more robust. The second approach consists in making a distinction between time invariant parameters I and time variant parameters V so that = I V (1.7)

For what concerns time variant parameters, the estimation/decision process must be able to follow the corresponding trajectories in time. The distinction between time variant and invariant parameters is actually dependent on the size of the observation interval, since no parameter is constant for an innite time. Finally, all combinations of the two approaches are possible, yielding four possible parameter sets: DI , DV , AI e AV . The latter two sets are populated respectively by random variables and random processes. The theory and practice of Digital Communications includes all conceptual elements necessary for the design of robust and ecient digital communication links, in which all involved receivers are able to deal with the presence of a large number of parametric uncertainties.