Apparatus and method of adaptive weighted parallel interference cancellation system for CDMA

[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of an adaptive weighted parallel interference cancellation system for CDMA. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method of a adaptive weighted parallel interference cancellation system for CDMA, which decreases multiple access interference (MAI) and thereby increases general performance.

[0003] Direct-sequence code-division multiple access (DS-CDMA) technology is the most attractive and promising candidate for the next generation wireless communication systems such as IMT-2000 and UMTS. The performance and/or the capacity of conventional CDMA detectors are greatly influenced by the MAI contributed by the other users. Even though optimal multi-user detection is not interference-limited, it is too complex to be implemented. Thus, a compromise between performance and system complexity gives a birth to sub-optimal multi-user detection like the interference cancellation (IC), including successive IC (SIC) and parallel IC (PIC). To achieve the acceptable performance improvement with the conventional PIC (CPIC), in which the total amount of the MAI estimate is cancelled at each stage of iteration, accurate channel estimation and bit decision are required. However, they are not guaranteed in low signal to noise and interference ratio (SNIR) situations.

[0004] To overcome the drawback of the CPIC, a few modified CPIC schemes were proposed based on similar idea. One is the adaptive hybrid serial/parallel IC (AHSPIC), which is devised for the (multi-path) fading environments. The basic idea of the AHSPIC is that it keeps the detectors with low SNIR input signals from participating in cancellation. That is, the detectors not involved in earlier cancellations are to be included in later cancellations when sufficient SINR is guaranteed after canceling the signals with high power in earlier cancellations.

[0005] The Partial PIC (PPIC) is another approach designed with focusing on the case of fixed channels with equal power. In the PPIC the partial amount of MAI estimate is cancelled at each stage of iteration. As the IC operation progresses, the fidelity of estimates for regeneration of the MAI goes up and thus the weight determining the amount of the MAI estimate being cancelled increases. The tentative soft decision of the PPIC at the present stage is obtained as a weighted sum of soft tentative decision available at the previous stage and the received signal from which MAI estimate is cancelled out. As a result, the performance improvement is not good enough and the whole system gets complicated.

[0006] The present invention provides an apparatus and method of an adaptive weighted parallel interference cancellation system for CDMA that obtains MAI-reduced signals using adaptive weighted subtraction of interference.

[0007] An apparatus of an adaptive weighted parallel interference cancellation system for CDMA comprises K stages for iterative cancellation of MAI in received signal. Each stage comprises a detector, a regenerator, and a subtractor. The detector determines tentative bit decision from the despread signal of a user. The regenerator that is coupled to the detector in parallel spreads an unmodulated signal, multiplies a channel phase, and multiplies by the output of the detector. The subtractor obtains MAI-cancelled signal on the basis of the adaptive weight adjustment.

[0008] Desirably, the detector comprises a matched filter, a real-part selector, a gain controller, and a finite-bit quantizer. The matched filter obtains maximum SNR (signal to noise ratio) from the despread signal of a user. The real-part selector extracts a real-part from the despread signal of a user with maximum SNR. The gain controller adjusts the gain depending upon the fidelity of the output signal of the real-part selector. The finite-bit quantizer quantizes the gain-adjusted signal from the gain controller. The finite-bit bit quantizer performs the hard decision for the signal larger than one and the soft decision for the signal less than one.

[0009] Desirably, the regenerator comprises a spreading code multiplier, a pulse shaping filter, a channel phase multiplier, and a multiplier. The spreading code multiplier multiplies the unmodulated signal by the spreading code of a user. The pulse shaping filter shapes the output signal of the spreading code multiplier. The channel phase multiplier multiplies the channel phase of a user by the output signal of the pulse shaping filter. The multiplier multiplies the output signal of the channel phase multiplier by the output signal of the detector.

[0010] Desirably, the subtractor comprises a weight multiplier, a first adder, a subtractor, and a second adder. The weight multiplier multiplies the output signal of the multiplier by the weight of the present stage. The first adder sums weight multiplied signals of all users. The subtractor subtracts the output signal of the first adder from the received baseband signal. The second adder adds the output signal of the weight multiplier to the output signal of the subtractor and thereby MAI-cancelled signal of a user is obtained.

[0011] The subtractor further comprises a first multiplier and a second multiplier. The first multiplier multiplies the output signal of the second adder by spreading code of a user. The second multiplier multiplies the output signal of the first multiplier by the channel phase and thereby phase difference is compensated.

[0012] A method of an adaptive weighted parallel interference cancellation system for CDMA comprises the following:

[0013] a) Tentative bit decision is made on the basis of the despread signal of a user.

[0014] b) The unmodulated signal is spread and a channel phase is multiplied.

[0015] c) The tentatively decided bit is multiplied by the spread and phase-multiplied signal and thereby the transmitted signal of a user is generated.

[0016] d) The received signal is multiplied by the weight and MAI-cancelled signal of a user is generated.

[0017] e) The above a), b), c), and d) steps for canceling MAI.

[0018] Desirably, the tentative bit decision comprises the following: First, maximum SNR from the despread signal of a user is obtained. Second, real parts from the despread signal having maximum SNR are extracted. Third, the gain of extracted real parts from the despread signal is controlled. Fourth, tentative bit decision of the gain-controlled signal is made.

[0019] Desirably, b) and c) from above comprises as follows: First, multiply unmodulated signal by spreading code of a user. Second, shape the output signal of the previous step. Third, multiply the shaped output signal of the previous step by channel phase of a user. Fourth, multiply the shaped output signal of the second step by the tentatively decided bit from a) above. Desirably, d) from above comprises as follows: First, multiply the received signal of a user by the weight of the present stage. Second, sum the weight multiplied signals of all users. Third, subtract the summed signals from the received baseband signal. Fourth, add the output signal of the first step to the output signal of the third step and an MAI-cancelled signal is obtained. Desirably, the third step comprises the following two steps. First is to multiply the MAI-cancelled signal of a user by the spreading code of a user. Next is to multiply the output signal of the first step by the channel phase and thereby the phase of the channels reflected.

[0020] FIGS. 1A and 1B show a block diagram for illustrating the multistage implementation of the adaptive weighted parallel interference cancellation system for CDMA in accordance with the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a graph for illustrating both the BER performances of the stage-by-stage weighted parallel interference cancellation (SWPIC), where the weights in each stage are equal, and the adaptive user-by-user weighted parallel interference cancellation (AUWPIC) against the weight and number of users;

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a graph for illustrating the comparison of BER performances of AUWPIC and other PIC schemes for users in high power group;

[0023] FIG. 4 shows a graph for illustrating the transfer function of a linear finite-bit quantizer; and

[0024] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart for illustrating the method of the adaptive weighted parallel interference cancellation system for CDMA in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIGS. 1A and 1B show the block diagram for illustrating the multistage implementation of the adaptive weighted parallel interference cancellation system for CDMA in accordance with the present invention.

[0026] The received baseband signal 100 includes signals of the user 1 through user M. The same processings for canceling MAI are applied to all users in the system. Here, user m is selected for a brief explanation. The baseband signal 100 is supplied to user m. The baseband signal 100 of user m is multiplied by the spreading code, PN_m, which means baseband signal 100 is despread by a first multiplier 101. A second multiplier. 102 multiplies signals by −φ_mand compensates phase difference. The output signals of the second multiplier 102 are supplied to an apparatus of the adaptive weighted parallel interference cancellation system.

[0027] The apparatus of the adaptive weighted parallel interference cancellation system includes K stages wherein K is a natural number greater than or equal to “0”, and each stage has the same structures except the weight. The weight for the first stage 0 is smaller than that for the last stage K.

[0028] Each stage of the apparatus of the adaptive weighted parallel interference cancellation system comprises detectors (DTCT), regenerators (REGN), and subtractors (SBTR). Detectors, regenerators, and subtractors are allocated to all users in the system.

[0029] An input signal is supplied to a matched filter 103 of a detector and the signal of maximum SNR is obtained. A real-part selector 104 selects the real part of this signal of maximum SNR and a gain controller 105 controls the gain of the real values. After the gain control for tentative soft decision, a bit quantizer 106 makes a tentative bit decision.

[0030] The spreading code multiplier 108 at a regenerator (REGM_m) multiplies the spreading code of user m (PN_m) by an unmodulated signal. The pulse shaping filter 109 shapes the output signal of the spreading code multiplier. Channel phase multiplier 110 multiplies the output signal of the pulse shaping filter 109 by channel phase −φ_mand thereby phase change due to the channel is reflected. The multiplier 111 multiplies the output signal of the regenerator (REGM_m) by the output signal of the detector (DTCT_m).

[0031] In case the detector (DTCT_m) is serially connected with the regenerator (REGM_m) and thereby signals are regenerated using the output of the detector (DTCT_m), the pulse shaping filter 109 is required to be able to handle a real part signal. On the contrary, the detector (DTCT_m) is connected with the regenerator (REGM_m) in parallel and the unmodulated signal goes through the pulse shaping filter 109 in the present invention. As a result, only the amplitude of the signal needs to be adjusted through the output of the detector (DTCT_m). The pulse shaping filter 109 is required to handle only binary signals and it can have a relatively simple structure.

[0032] A subtractor (SBTR_m) cancels MAI using the signals regenerated by the detector (DTCT_m) and the regenerator (REGM_m). The weight multiplier 112 multiplies the signals of user m by the weight. The weight is adaptively determined by the fidelity of estimation of the regenerated signal.

[0033] The first adder 113 sums weight multiplied signals from user 1 to user M. The subtractor 114 subtracts this summed signal from the signal stored in the buffer 120. The second adder 115 sums signals for user m and the output signal u_m^(k)in which MAI has been cancelled is obtained. The output signal u_m^(k)is multiplied by PN_mfor despreading and then multiplied by −φ_mfor phase compensation. $\begin{array}{cc}{u}_m^{\left(k\right)}=r\left(t\right)-\sum _{j=1,j\ne m}^M{w}_j^{\left(k\right)}{\hat{I}}_j^{\left(k\right)}& \left[\mathrm{Equation}1\right]\end{array}$

[0034] Î_j^(k): regenerated signal for user j^thstage k^th

[0035] r(t): received signal

[0036] w_j^(k): weight at stage k^thof user j^th

[0037] M: total number of users in the system

[0038] t: time

[0039] K: total stage number

[0040] wherein 0≦k≦K and j, K, m and M are a natural number.

[0041] In this embodiment, the optimum weights for all users are obtained by minimizing the mean square error (MSE) and it is shown in equation 2. $\begin{array}{cc}E\left[{\left|r\left(t\right)-\sum _{j=1}^M{w}_j^{\left(k\right)}{\hat{I}}_j^{\left(k\right)}\right|}^2\right]& \left[\mathrm{Equation}2\right]\end{array}$

[0042] The weights depend on the confidence on Î_j^(k), that is, on the correlation between Î_j^(k)and I_j^(k). Since the exact knowledge of correlation is not given in practice, the least mean square (LMS) algorithm which employs a recursive method is applied. To obtain the weights for i-th user by LMS is shown in equation 3.

[0043] {tilde over (w)}_i^(k)(n+1)={tilde over (w)}_i^(k)(n)+μÎ_i^(k)(n){tilde over (e)}^(k)(n)  [Equation 3]

[0044] μ: step size of LMS algorithm

[0045] Estimation of error {tilde over (e)}^(k)in the LMS algorithm is shown in equation 4. $\begin{array}{cc}{\tilde{e}}^{\left(k\right)}\left(n\right)=r\left(n\right)-\sum _{j=1}^M{\tilde{w}}_j^{\left(k\right)}\left(n\right){\hat{I}}_j^{\left(k\right)}\left(n\right)& \left[\mathrm{Equation}4\right]\end{array}$

[0046] However, due to nonergodicity of Î_j^(k)in practice, the weight {tilde over (w)}_i^(k)is a smoothed value of w_i^(k)which minimizes Equation 2.

[0047] FIG. 2 shows a graph for illustrating the BER performances of the stage-by-stage weighted parallel interference cancellation (SWPIC) and the adaptive user-by-user weighted parallel interference cancellation (AUWPIC) against the weight and number of users. The received powers of all users are set to be equal. The weight {tilde over (w)}_i^(k)obtained by the LMS algorithm is different from the weight w_i^(k)minimizing the BER (or MSE) since {tilde over (w)}_i^(k)is the smoothed value of w_i^(k)by a scale factor. It was found that, by experiment, κ {tilde over (w)}_i^(k)(n) with a scale factor κ≈0.8 minimizes the BER regardless of number of users in the system.

[0048] In practice, the received powers of all users are not equal. In experiments, two user groups are assumed with the same number of users; the received powers of users in each group are set to be equal and the one group has lower power than the other by 6 db. With two user groups, FIG. 3 compares BER performances of AUWPIC and other PIC schemes for users in high power (0 dB) group. The weights of AUWPIC for different received power and number of users are given in Table 1. The weight of SWPIC is chosen as the weight (0.6953) of AUWPIC in high power group when the number of users is 20. We see that the weights of AUWPIC are adjusted to the received power and number of users. In FIG. 3, the performance degradation of SWPIC is caused, since the weight is not optimal for a low power group (−6 dB) even when the number of users is 20. For all numbers of users, AUWPIC shows performance improvement over the others. For large number of users, it is shown CPIC is inferior to the conventional receiver.

[0049] FIG. 4 shows a graph for illustrating the transfer function of linear finite-bit quantizer.

[0050] This finite-bit quantizer has advantages of hard decision and soft decision. In addition, its transfer function is fairly close enough to the optimal hyperbolic tangent function in terms of MMSE (minimum mean square error) and it can be implemented with linear components. A gain controller is placed at the prior stage, and the slope of the transfer function can be adjusted on the basis of the fidelity of input signals.

[0051] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart for illustrating the method of the adaptive weighted parallel interference cancellation system for CDMA in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] At stage S501, baseband signals that are transmitted from the CDMA transmitter for user 1 through user m are received. At stage S502, the signals are multiplied by PN_mfor despreading and then channel phase −φ_mis multiplied for phase compensation at stage S503.

[0053] At stage S504, maximum SNR signal is obtained by passing the input signal of user m through the matched filter. At stage S505, the gain control for tentative soft decision is performed. Then, the quantization of tentative bit decision is performed at stage S506.

[0054] At stage S507, the unmodulated signal is multiplied by PN_m. PN_mis the spreading code of user m. The spread signals are supplied to the phase-shaping filter. The output signal of the phase-shaping filter is multiplied by channel phase −φ_mand thereby multiplication of the channel phase is performed. Finally, the phase-multiplied signal is multiplied by the output of stage S506.

[0055] At stage S508, the signal for user m is multiplied by a weight for stage k. At stage S509, signals from user 1 to user m are summed up. A subtraction is performed at stage S510 and the output signal of S510 is added to the weight-multiplied signal of user m.

[0056] The output signal of S511 is multiplied by PN_mat stage S512 and the output signal of S512 is multiplied by channel phase −φ_mat stage S513.

[0057] PPIC uses not only the bit decision of the present stage but also that of the previous stages. Since the present invention provides an apparatus and method of the adaptive weighted parallel interference cancellation system for CDMA which manipulates only the bit decision of the present stage, not the previous stages, its complexity becomes considerably simpler.

[0058] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in related art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as recited in the accompanying claims.