Preamble detection using frequency based correlation

A method for detecting a preamble location in a multiple preamble OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) system is disclosed. An OFDM signal is generated with a plurality of frames, and each of the frames includes symbols and a predetermined preamble symbol. A maximum FDDC (Frequency Domain Differential Correlator) value is computed for each of the symbols in some of the frames. The preamble location in a frame is determined by summing the maximum FDDC value for each symbol at a same frame location in consecutive frames of the OFDM signal.

BACKGROUND

Typically, an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) modulation technology, gives wireless networking a physical (PHY) layer. OFDM modulation technology is typically implemented in embedded OFDM chipsets that could include radio transceivers, Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) processors, system input/output (I/O), serial to parallel and back again translators

In practice, the OFDM chipset bundles data into frames which are transmitted over narrowband carriers in parallel at different frequencies. High bandwidth is achieved by using these “parallel subchannels (aka sub-carriers) that are as closely spaced as possible in frequency without overlapping/interfering. By being orthogonal, they have no overlap, and thus do not interfere at all with each other. Orthogonal means that they are perpendicular, but in a mathematical, rather than a spatial, sense.

OFDM, though, has to contend with other problems besides multipath distortion. Two of the most important problems are frequency offset and phase noise. Both can happen when the receiver's voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) is not oscillating at exactly the same carrier frequency as the transmitter's VCO. When the problem is permanent, its called frequency offset; that could result in more errors because the no-longer orthogonal sub-carriers can interfere with each other.

One solution is to include a training sequence at the beginning of every packet using subcarriers. These subcarriers are modulated with the known training data using binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) to produce “pilot tones.” These tones let both the transmitter and receiver determine the frequency offset and phase noise jitter between the transmitter and the receiver. Once known, adjusting the VCO's frequency and adaptively correcting for the current offset will correct the frequency offset.

The Wimax standard (IEEE Std. 802.16-2004) released Oct. 1, 2004 uses frames that have a preamble that may have a constant frequency offset. In Wimax an OFDM symbol at the start of a frame is part of a set of several pre-defined preamble symbols. When the receiver initially powers on, it may not know which preamble is transmitted, and what the frequency offset is and time offset of the OFDM signal. Further the Wimax system may simultaneously receive multiple preamble symbols from different base stations the may use the same frequency resulting in a signal interference and negative signal to noise ratio (SNR) at the frame edge.

DESCRIPTION

An OFDM subscriber receiver must handle three uncertainties on initial OFDM frame reception. These uncertainties may include a preamble index (that identifies which preamble is being used), a signal frequency and a signal time offset in a negative SNR environment. In order to demodulate and decode the OFDM data symbols located in a frame, the receiver must shift the sub-carriers to their correct frequencies and commence a demodulation and the decoding process for each symbol. The receiver described herein is assumed to be a digital receiver that can detect a frame pre-amble. Upon detection, the digital receive can provide the results of the detection available to digital synchronization circuitry to enable decoding of the received signal.

While the present claimed subject matter described herein is based on specific specification, characteristics and techniques based on the 802.16 standard, such specifications, characteristics and techniques are used for purposes of illustrating and describing the present invention. While description and drawings herein represent a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood that various additions, modifications and substitutions may be made to the specifications, characteristics and techniques of the 802.16 standard without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the accompanying claims. In particular, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms, preamble formats and structures, data formats and structures, arrangements, proportions, and with other elements, materials, and components, without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, and not limited to the foregoing description. Furthermore, it should be noted that the order in which the process is performed may vary without substantially altering the outcome of the process.

Returning now toFIG. 1, an OFDM WiMax data frame10comprises a DL Sub frame14that includes a predetermined preamble12and a UL Sub Frame16. The WiMax frame has a total duration of 5 mSec, with each symbol having a period duration of about 100 microseconds. The duration between the DL subframe14and UL Subframe16is fixed to about 30 uSec, while the duration between the UL subframe16and DL Subframe14is fixed to about 40 uSec.

The preamble12comprises a symbol that has a predetermined duration and number of bits which are defined by the 802.16 standard, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Preamble12is shown having four bits just for illustrative purpose. The actual number of bits of the preamble may be a higher number such as the size defined in the 802.16 specification. Preamble12is illustrated in the frequency domain by 20. Each symbol in WiMax frame10also includes a cyclic prefix extension18that is positioned in time at the beginning and end of the symbol. Cyclic prefix extension18may be included in frame10to preserve the orthogonally of the sub-carriers over the FFT processing interval in un-equalized channels. Examples of such channels include the Wimax multi-path channels. Data of one of the symbols is represented in the frequency domain by 22 having multiple bits with random amplitude. The UL Sub Frame16likewise comprises multiple symbols each having a cyclic prefix extension.

Referring toFIG. 2, circuit29may be used to identify the preamble. Circuit29comprises an antenna30and is coupled with translation circuit32. Circuit32is coupled with cyclic prefix removal circuit34and has an output connected to Fast Fourier transform circuitry36. Fast Fourier transform circuitry36provides an output signal that is fed to AFDCC (Averaged Frequency Domain Differential Correlator) circuit38and frequency domain processing circuit40.

The OFDM signal may be in the form of a data frame10. The OFDM signal may be received by antenna30and fed to time domain translation circuit32. Translation circuit32filters the signal; performs rate conversion and other time domain processing of the signal. The resultant output of translation circuit32is fed to cyclic prefix removal circuit34. Removal circuit34removes the cyclic prefix18from the resultant output. The output of removal circuit34is fed to Fast Fourier Transform circuit36to generate a Discrete FFT signal. The output48of circuit36may be fed to AFDCC circuit38and to Frequency Domain processing circuit40. AFDCC circuit38identifies the location of the preamble, details of which are described inFIGS. 3 and 4, and feeds a signal indicating the location to frame timing control block (Not Shown).

Frame timing control block receives a number corresponding to the time of the preamble location within a data frame as determined by the AFDDC circuit38. Frame timing control block determines a frame time and feeds the resulting location and frame time to time domain translation circuit32. Circuit40may identify, derive and output the data bits embedded in the frame. These data bits may then be stored in a memory of an electronic circuit or a computer for further processing. Circuits36-40may include a one or more processors and memory (not shown) or other electronic hardware, or may be coupled with a processor for performing the operations described inFIGS. 3 and 4. The processor may execute instructions stored in any type of computer readable memory, examples may include, but are not limited to, flash memory, hard disk drives, optical disks, semiconductor, RAM or ROM memory.

Referring toFIG. 4, the output48of the FFT circuit36is received in block50. Output48is shown inFIG. 4as a frame0through frame M−1 (and labeled as FFT Out), where M is the number of frames being sampled to identify the preamble. Frame0through M−1 is designated inFIG. 4as52a-52m. Each of these frames has a symbol0through k, designated inFIG. 4as52aS0-52aSk.

In block54ofFIG. 3, each of the unknown variables for a hypothesis are generated for the following Equation 1:

In this equation the FDDC value (Also referred to as the Frequency Domain Differential Correlator) (FDDC(x, y, z)) is generated for preamble x, with frequency offset y, at symbol z within the frame. Plen is a length of the predetermined preamble symbol in bits, StepSize is a difference in FFT bins between consecutive bits of the preamble symbol, Y0is a frequency offset of the FFT bin where the first symbol bit is transmitted, and the output of function DP(x, k) where, k is bit k of preamble x in differential form, is selected from a group consisting of −1 or +1.

In block56, each of the hypothesis values determined in block54are fed into Equation 1 to calculate multiple values for each of the symbols (Such calculation is referred to herein as NHypothesis, where N is the number of different outcomes from a change in the variables calculated using Equation 1). For example, where N=1, a unique value for x (the preamble index) and y (the frequency offset) is assigned by placing numbers instead of variables into Equation 1. For an exemplary preamble number 0, the first 5 differential bits may be assigned such that DP(x=0,k=0:4)=+1,+1,−1,+1,−1. When x is known, DP(x, k) would represent the known preamble sequence. The results using Equation 1 generated for each symbol within a frame, and are referred to as a Frequency Domain Differential Correlator (FDDC),55A-55M (FIG. 4). The resultant FDDC55A-55M is fed to block58.

In block58, a maximum FDDC for each of the NHypothesis for each symbol in a frame is determined by using the formula for the absolute value of FDDC, which is defined as the squareroot (real^2+imag^2) component of the FDDC. The average highest FDDC may be referred herein to as the AFDDC (57inFIG. 4), or Averaged Frequency. Domain Differential Correlator. The AFDDC may be determined using the following Equation 2:

k is the Frame number

x is a specific preamble sequence, X is the range of possible preambles,

y is a specific frequency offset for the preamble symbol, and Y is a; range of possible frequency offsets (also referred to as FFT bins).

In block60, the complex component for AFDDC having the maximum value for one symbol in the frame is summed with the FDDC complex component for each symbol at a same frame location in consecutive frames of the OFDM signal. (Offset63shown inFIG. 4)

Likewise in block62, the segment power of the winning hypothesis is summed to enable power normalization in later stage. (Value61for N Hypo inFIG. 4).

In block64, the absolute value of the combination of (the sum of the maximum value for each of the NHypothesticals from block60divided by the sum of the win segment power from62). The maximum of such absolute value would be the preamble location. For example, inFIG. 4, such a location is indicated by slot #0of set N2.

One advantage of using the maximum value in consecutive frames to determine the Preamble location is that the number of values that has to be stored in memory is reduced by several factors. Such maximum value corresponds to the span of z, which is the number of symbols in a frame.

By using only the highest FDDC value per symbol, at the end of the process one may not be able to determine the preamble index of frequency offset but rather the location or symbol number of the preamble. However, once the preamble location is known, other parameters (e.g. frequency offset and preamble index) can easily be determined.