Skip to main content
Log in

Interaction between Symbol Timing Offset and Channel Interpolation in OFDM Systems: BER Analysis and Performance Degradation

  • Published:
Wireless Personal Communications Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems, since the cyclic prefix (CP) is designed to be longer than the channel impulse response, there exists a certain range within the CP where symbol timing synchronization can be accomplished avoiding adjacent inter symbol interference. However, the appearance of a linear phase term across subcarriers in the frequency-domain due to symbol timing offset (STO) is known to affect the performance of channel interpolation. In this paper, we analyze the performance degradation due to the interaction between STO and channel interpolation in OFDM systems affected by multipath Rayleigh fading. Particularly, simple closed-form expressions for the bit error rate (BER) are obtained for different quadrature amplitude modulation constellations. Results show that there exists an irreducible BER floor due to STO and channel interpolation, which depends on the STO, the subcarrier index, the pilot spacing and the correlation between pilot subcarriers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

References

  1. Goldsmith, A. (2005). Wireless communications. Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  2. Morelli, M., Kuo, C. C. J., & Pun, M. O. (2007). Synchronization techniques for orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) a tutorial review. Proceedings of the IEEE, 95(7), 1394–1427.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Dharmawansa, P., Rajatheva, N., & Minn, H. (2009). An exact error probability analysis of OFDM systems with frequency offset. IEEE Transactions on Communications, 57(1), 26–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Yiling, Wu, Zhao, Yuping, & Li, Dou. (2012). Sampling frequency offset estimation for pilot-aided OFDM systems in mobile environment. Wireless Personal Communications, 62(1), 215–226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Hung, Ching-P, & Su, Yu T. (1999). Joint frequency and symbol synchronization schemes for an OFDM system. Wireless Personal Communications, 10(3), 309–317.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  6. Schmidl, T. M., & Cox, D. C. (1997). Robust frequency and timing synchronization for OFDM. IEEE Transactions on Communications, 45(12), 1613–1621.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. van de Beek, J. J., Sandell, M., & Borjesson, P. O. (1997). ML estimation of time and frequency offset in OFDM systems. IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing, 45(7), 1800–1805.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  8. Chen, S.-H., He, W.-H., Chen, H.-S., & Lee, Y. (2003). Mode detection, synchronization, and channel estimation for DVB-T OFDM receiver. In Global Telecommunications Conference, 2003 GLOBECOM ’03. IEEE 5, 2416–2420.

  9. Chang, Dah-Chung. (2008). Effect and compensation of symbol timing offset in OFDM systems with channel interpolation. IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting, 54(4), 761–770.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Coleri, S., Ergen, M., Puri, A., & Bahai, A. (2002). Channel estimation techniques based on pilot arrangement in OFDM systems. IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting, 48(3), 223–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Zhang, Wei, & Xia, Xiang-Gen, & Ching, P. C. (2006). Optimal training and pilot pattern design for OFDM systems in Rayleigh fading. IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting, 52(4), 505–514.

  12. Baek, J.-S., & Seo, J.-S. (2012). Efficient pilot patterns and channel estimations for MIMO-OFDM systems. IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting 99(1).

  13. Hsieh, Meng-Han, & Wei, Che-Ho. (1998). Channel estimation for OFDM systems based on comb-type pilot arrangement in frequency selective fading channels. IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, 44(1), 217–225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Park, Jeongho, Kim, Jihyung, Park, Myonghee, Ko, Kyunbyoung, Kang, Changeon, & Hong, Daesik. (2006). Performance analysis of channel estimation for OFDM systems with residual timing offset. IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 5(7), 1622–1625.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Ko, C. C., Mo, R., & Shi, M. (2005). A new data rotation based CP synchronization scheme for OFDM systems. IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting, 51(3), 315–321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Li, Yushan, & Cao, Zisheng. (2009). Acquisition algorithms and structures for STiMi receiver. IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting, 55(2), 290–299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Baek, Jong-Seob, & Seo, Jong-Soo. (2011). Improved CIR-based receiver design for DVB-T2 system in large delay spread channels: Synchronization and equalization. IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting, 57(1), 103–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Rugini, L., & Banelli, P. (2005). BER of OFDM systems impaired by carrier frequency offset in multipath fading channels. IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 4(5), 2279–2288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Lopez-Martinez, F. J., Martos-Naya, E., Paris, J. F., & Fernandez-Plazaola, U. (2010). Generalized BER analysis of QAM and its application to MRC under imperfect CSI and interference in Ricean fading channels. IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, 59(5), 2598–2604.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Martos-Naya, E., Paris, J. F., Fernandez-Plazaola, U., & Goldsmith, A. (2008). Exact BER analysis for M-QAM modulation with transmit beamforming under channel prediction error. IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 7(10), 3674–3678.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Lopez-Martinez, F. J., Martos-Naya, E., Paris, J. F., & Entrambasaguas, J. T. (2011). Exact closed-form BER analysis of OFDM systems in the presence of IQ imbalances and ICSI. IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 10(6), 1914–1922.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Scharf, L. (1991). Statistical signal processing. Prentice hall.

  23. Krondorf, M., Liang, T.-J., & Fettweis, G. (2008). On synchronization of opportunistic radio OFDM systems. In Vehicular Technology Conference , 2008. VTC Spring 2008. IEEE (pp. 1686–1690).

  24. Speth, M., Fechtel, S. A., Fock, G., & Meyr, H. (1999). Optimum receiver design for wireless broad-band systems using OFDM. I. IEEE Transactions on Communications, 47(11), 1668–1677.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Tan, Peng, & Beaulieu, N. C. (2008). Effect of channel estimation error on bit error probability in OFDM systems over Rayleigh and Ricean fading channels. IEEE Transactions on Communications, 56(4), 675–685.

  26. Lopez-Martinez, F. J., Martos-Naya, E., Paris, J. F., & Goldsmith, A. J. (2009). BER Analysis for MIMO-OFDM Beamforming with MRC under Channel Prediction and Interpolation Errors. In Global Telecommunications Conference, 2009. GLOBECOM 2009. IEEE (pp. 1–7).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. Javier Lopez-Martinez.

Additional information

This work is funded by Junta de Andalucia (P11-TIC-7109), Spanish Government-FEDER (TEC2010-18451), Univ. Malaga and EU under Marie-Curie COFUND U-mobility action (ref. 246550).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Salido, S., Lopez-Martinez, F.J., Martos-Naya, E. et al. Interaction between Symbol Timing Offset and Channel Interpolation in OFDM Systems: BER Analysis and Performance Degradation. Wireless Pers Commun 78, 1129–1141 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11277-014-1806-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11277-014-1806-z

Keywords

Navigation