Patent Publication Number: US-2007110195-A1

Title: Receiver and communication system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application is based upon and claims benefit of priority under 35 USC § 119 from the Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-305827, filed on Oct. 20, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a receiver and communication system and, more particularly, to a receiver and communication system suitable for an apparatus using space division multiplexing.  
      An SDM communication system using space division multiplexing (to be simply referred to as SDM hereinafter) in which a transmitter codes and multiplexes different signals and transmits them from a plurality of antennas and a receiver receives and decodes the multiplexed signals adopts a sphere decoder as a quasi-maximum-likelihood decoder for lattice codes as described in non-patent reference 1 cited below.  
      The sphere decoder uses a tree search algorithm to narrow down the transmitted lattice code points to one while gradually reducing the searching area. The use of the sphere decoder can achieve almost the same decoding precision as that of maximum-likelihood decoding at lower cost of decoding in comparison with exhaustive search. The sphere decoder targets a searching area inside the sphere.  
      In the use of the searching algorithm, it is conventionally difficult to decrease the number of searching calculations. An increase in the number of searching calculations raises the calculation cost.  
      In wireless communication, when normally receiving a packet, the receiving side transmits delivery confirmation (Ack) to the transmitting side.  
      If the receiving side cannot normally receive a packet and a packet error occurs, the receiving side transmits a packet re-transmission request (Nak) to the transmitting side or does not transmit any delivery confirmation (Ack). A technique of automatically re-transmitting a packet from the transmitting side in this case is called an automatic repeat request (to be referred to as an ARQ hereinafter).  
      According to a technique described in non-patent reference 2 cited below, the receiving side holds packet data with an error upon issuing an ARQ, and combines, with a weight, a total of N packets including the second, third, . . . , Nth (N is an integer of 2 or more) re-transmitted packets in addition to the first packet, decoding the transmitted packets. Communication using decoding data with an error and re-transmission data is called a hybrid ARQ.  
      In the hybrid ARQ, the transmitting side re-transmits a packet to the receiving side upon issuing an ARQ. The receiving side combines held packet data with an error and the re-transmitted packet data.  
      SDM communication using this method adopts an SDM decoder. In this case, the receiver can hold packet data with an error and combine it with re-transmitted packet data. However, the SDM decoder cannot perform a process using packet data with an error, failing to increase the efficiency of the decoding process.  
      The following are references which disclose a conventional sphere decoder and hybrid ARQ:  
      A universal lattice code decoder for fading channels Viterbo, E.; Bouros, J.; Information Theory, IEEE Transactions on, Volume: 45, Issue: 5, July 1999, Pages 1639-1642  
      Code Combining—A Maximum-Likelihood Decoding Approach for Combining an Arbitrary Number of Noisy Packets DAVID CHASE; Communications, IEEE Transactions on, Vol. Com-33, No. 5, May 1985, Pages 385-393  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a receiver comprising: a decoding unit having a quasi-maximum-likelihood decoder which receives a plurality of transmission signals transmitted simultaneously from a plurality of antennas, decodes the transmission signals using a searching algorithm, and outputs decoded signals, an error packet data storage unit which stores packet data with an error from the quasi-maximum-likelihood decoder when a packet error exists in the decoded signals, and a control unit which controls operations of the quasi-maximum-likelihood decoder and the error packet data storage unit; a receiving unit which receives the decoded signals, and when a packet error exists in the decoded signals, outputs a packet error detection signal to the control unit, wherein when said receiving unit outputs the packet error detection signal and receives re-transmitted transmission signals, the re-transmitted transmission signals are decoded using the error packet stored in the error packet data storage unit as a start point for search.  
      According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication system comprising: a transmitter having a plurality of antennas, a transmitting unit which transmits different transmission signals from the respective antennas, a transmission data storage unit which stores data of the transmission signals transmitted from the transmitting unit, and a transmitting-side control unit which controls operations of the transmitting unit and the transmission data storage unit; and a receiver having a decoding unit having a quasi-maximum-likelihood decoder which receives the transmission signals transmitted from the transmitting unit, decodes the transmission signals using a searching algorithm, and outputs decoded signals, an error packet data storage unit which stores packet data with an error from the quasi-maximum-likelihood decoder when a packet error exists in the decoded signals, and a receiving-side control unit which controls operations of the quasi-maximum-likelihood decoder and the error packet data storage unit, and a receiving unit which receives the decoded signals, and when a packet error exists in the decoded signals, outputs a packet error detection signal to the receiving-side control unit, wherein when said receiver outputs the packet error detection signal, the error packet data storage unit stores an error packet corresponding to the packet error detection signal and said receiver transmits a re-transmission request to said transmitter, when receiving the re-transmission request, said transmitter re-transmits the transmission signals using data stored in the transmission data storage unit, and when receiving the re-transmitted transmission signals, said receiver decodes the re-transmitted transmission signals using the error packet stored in the error packet data storage unit as a start point for search. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a communication system according to the third embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is an explanatory view showing procedures to add packet data to a re-transmission signal in the third embodiment; and  
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a communication system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     (1) FIRST EMBODIMENT  
       FIG. 1  shows the arrangement of a communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The communication system comprises a transmitter  100  having an ARQ control unit  101 , n+1 (n is an integer of 1 or more) transmission antennas x 0  to xn, a transmitting unit  102 , and a transmission data storage unit  103 , and a receiver  400  having m+1 (m is an integer of 1 or more) reception antennas r 0  to rm, an SDM decoding unit  200 , and a receiving unit  300 .  
      The SDM decoding unit  200  comprises an ARQ control unit  201 , sphere decoder  202 , and error packet data storage unit  203 .  
      An operation in a normal communication state when normally transmitting/receiving data will be explained. The transmitter  100  simultaneously transmits transmission signals x 0  to xn having independent data from the transmission antennas x 0  to xn. At this time, to prepare for a case of issuing an ARQ, the transmission data storage unit  103  stores what kind of data was transmitted.  
      The stored transmission data can take any format as far as a transmitted packet can be reconstructed later. For example, the transmission data storage unit  103  may store the coded transmission signals x 0  to xn directly, or data information before coding.  
      The receiver  400  receives signals transmitted from the transmitter as combined signals by the reception antennas r 0  to rm.  
      The sphere decoder  202  decodes the received combined signals into signals y 0  to ym. At this time, the sphere decoder  202  receives the radius d of sphere as an initial value, searches the inside sphere, and estimates, i.e., decodes the combined signals. The sphere decoder  202  outputs the obtained decoded signals y 0  to ym to the receiving unit  300 .  
      An operation upon issuing an ARQ will be described. When the receiving unit  300  detects a packet error in the decoded signals y 0  to ym supplied from the sphere decoder  202 , it outputs a packet error detection signal to the ARQ control unit  201 .  
      Upon reception of the packet error detection signal, the ARQ control unit  201  operates to supply the decoded signals y 0  to ym containing the detected packet error to the error packet data storage unit  203 , which stores them. The receiver transmits a re-transmission request Nak to the transmitter.  
      When the transmitter  100  receives the re-transmission request, the ARQ control unit  101  operates to issue the re-transmission request to the transmitting unit  102 . The transmitting unit  102  reads out original transmission data of the error packet from the transmission data storage unit  103 , generates transmission signals x 0  to xn identical to the signals of the error packet, and transmits them to the receiver  400 .  
      In the SDM decoding unit  200 , the ARQ control unit  201  operates to notify the sphere decoder  202  to receive re-transmission packets. In response to this, the sphere decoder  202  receives the signals x 0  to xn transmitted as re-transmission packets as the combined signals r 0  to rm. The sphere decoder  202  reads out the previously decoded signals y 0  to ym stored in the error packet data storage unit  203 , without using the radius d of sphere serving as the initial value of search. The sphere decoder  202  decodes the combined signals r 0  to rm again using the decoded signals y 0  to ym as a start point of the lattice points within the sphere.  
      The decoded signals y 0  to ym stored in the error packet data storage unit  203  also include the closest point or a point near the closest point. When, therefore, the decoded signals y 0  to ym include the closest point, search is executed using them as a start point for search that is one of the transmitted lattice code points. Search is highly likely to end by one calculation.  
      Even if the decoded signals y 0  to ym do not include the closest point, they often include a point near the closest point. By using the decoded signals y 0  to ym as a start point for search, search can start from the vicinity of the closest point.  
      Especially when normal communication has been achieved before issuing an ARQ, it is can be estimated that the closest point exists at high probability, more accurately, at a probability close to the coding rate of the error correcting code.  
      The first embodiment executes search again using packet data with an error upon issuing an ARQ, and can perform a decoding process more efficiently than a conventional method of starting search by giving the radius d of sphere.  
      As described above, a decoding process using a searching algorithm requires a higher cost of decoding as the number of searching calculations increases, so it is desirable to minimize the number of searching calculations. The communication apparatus according to the first embodiment employs packet data with an error as a start point for search of the quasi-maximum-likelihood decoder by giving attention to the fact that decoded signals stored in the error packet data storage unit include the closest point or a point near the closest point. Compared to the conventional method of starting search by giving the radius d of sphere, the calculation cost greatly reduces to contribute to reducing power consumption.  
     (2) SECOND EMBODIMENT  
       FIG. 2  shows the arrangement of a communication apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.  
      The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a transmitting unit  112  in a transmitter  110  incorporates an error detection coding unit  112   a  and a receiving unit  310  incorporates an error detection decoding unit  311  paired with the error detection coding unit  112   a.    
      In order to allow the receiving unit  310  to determine whether the decoded signals y 0  to ym contain a packet error, the transmission signals x 0  to xn from the transmitter  110  must contain an error detecting code. Typical examples of this code are a CRC check and parity check. The error detecting code may have error correctability.  
      The error detection coding unit  112   a  codes the transmission signals x 0  to xn such that they contain an error detecting code.  
      When the receiving unit  310  receives the decoded signals y 0  to ym from the sphere decoder  202 , the error detection decoding unit  311  decodes the error detecting code contained in the decoded signals y 0  to ym to determine whether a packet error exists. If the error detection decoding unit  311  determines that a packet error exists, the same operation as that in the first embodiment is executed.  
      In the communication apparatus according to the second embodiment, the transmitter  110  performs an error detection coding process and the receiving unit performs an error detection decoding process, thereby detecting a packet error. By giving packet data with an error as a start point for search of the quasi-maximum-likelihood decoder, similar to the first embodiment, the calculation cost greatly reduces to achieve low power consumption, in comparison with the case of starting search by giving the radius d of sphere.  
     (3) THIRD EMBODIMENT  
       FIG. 3  shows the arrangement of a communication apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.  
      The third embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that a receiving unit  320  in a receiver  420  additionally comprises a packet data analysis unit  322 .  FIG. 4  shows procedures to add packet data to the transmission signals x 0  to xn in re-transmitting them.  
      In the information communication field, packet data describing a packet source, destination, packet number, and the like is generally set at the start of a packet (e.g., IEEE 802.11a, 11b, 11g). Also when an ARQ is issued, packet data describing the ordinal number of a packet to be re-transmitted or the like is added. The present invention is also applicable to a case of issuing an ARQ during burst communication.  
      A transmission data storage unit  103  stores only a data part DP. If an ARQ is issued, the data part DP stored in the transmission data storage unit  103  is read out. The readout data part DP is concatenated to packet data PI to generate a re-transmission packet RP. The re-transmission packet RP is re-transmitted as the transmission signals x 0  to xn.  
      The receiver receives the transmission signals x 0  to xn as the combined signals r 0  and rm. A sphere decoder  202  decodes the data part DP and packet data PI similarly to a normal operation, outputting the decoded signals y 0  to ym.  
      The receiving unit  320  receives the decoded signals y 0  to ym, and the packet data analysis unit  322  analyzes the packet data PI. If the packet data PI turns out to be the re-transmission packet RP, the packet data analysis unit  322  notifies an ARQ control unit  201  of this.  
      In the SDM decoding unit  200 , packet data PI corresponding to the re-transmission packet RP is read out from the error packet data storage unit  203  under the control of the ARQ control unit  201 . The sphere decoder  202  uses the packet data PI as a start point for search and performs a decoding process.  
      These procedures allow utilizing, in decoding, packet data representing the number of a re-transmitted packet, a modulation method, and the like.  
      The communication system according to the third embodiment analyzes packet data added at the start of packet data, and can increase the process efficiency by effectively using data representing the number of a re-transmitted packet, a modulation method, and the like.  
     (4) FOURTH EMBODIMENT  
       FIG. 5  shows the arrangement of a communication apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.  
      The fourth embodiment is different from the first to third embodiments in that an error packet data storage unit  213  replaces the error packet data storage unit  203 . The error packet data storage unit  213  comprises a storage unit  213   a  and modulation method conversion unit  213   b.    
      The storage unit  213   a  stores an error packet, as described above.  
      When a modulation method used before generation of an error changes upon re-transmission of a packet, the modulation method conversion unit  213   b  converts the modulation method of an error packet before the change.  
      Generally in the information communication field, communication stabilizes by changing the modulation method to one for high performance under an AWGN (Additive White Gaussian Noise) for a sever transmission channel. In this case, the modulation method often switches at the timing when packet errors successively occur, i.e., ARQs are successively issued.  
      A change of the modulation method of a re-transmission packet after issuing an ARQ means a change of the transmission signals x 0  to xn. In this case, the modulation method conversion unit  213   b  effectively converts the modulation method of an error packet stored before the change of the modulation method.  
      More specifically, the storage unit  213   a  of the error packet data storage unit  213  holds the decoded signals y 0  to ym of an error packet.  
      If a packet data analysis unit  322  in a receiving unit  320  analyzes packet data to determine that the modulation method has changed, it notifies the error packet data storage unit  213  of the change of the modulation method.  
      The modulation method conversion unit  213   b  receives the decoded signals y 0  to ym of the error packet stored in the storage unit  213   a , converts their modulation method before the change to the current modulation method after the change, and outputs the resultant decoded signals y 0  to ym to a sphere decoder  202 . The sphere decoder  202  utilizes the decoded signals y 0  to ym having the converted modulation method as a start point for search, and performs a decoding process.  
      For example, assume that the modulation method changes from 16QAM to QPSK after issuing an ARQ. The storage unit  213   a  stores a 16QAM-modulated symbol. The modulation method conversion unit  213   b  temporarily returns the 16QAM symbol read out from the storage unit  213   a  to a binary sequence. For example, when the 16QAM symbol is “3+1i”, the modulation method conversion unit  213   b  returns it to a binary sequence “1011”.  
      Then, the modulation method conversion unit  213   b  converts the binary sequence into QPSK. For example, the modulation method conversion unit  213   b  converts the binary sequence “1011” into QPSK symbols “1−1i, 1+1i”. For another modulation method, the modulation method conversion unit  213   b  can convert a symbol by the same procedures.  
      Modulation methods in a broader sense also include the coding rate. The coding rate is a value representing the number of times a data amount of original data increases by an error correcting code. An example of the method of changing the coding rate is puncturing. Puncturing is to regularly puncture bits and obtain a bit sequence at a desired coding rate.  
      As bits are punctured, performance under the AWGN decreases. Noise resistance is generally increased by transmitting bits, which were punctured upon issuing an ARQ, when re-transmitting a packet.  
      The positions of bits to be punctured are regularly arrayed at each coding rate. Bit puncturing positions can, therefore, be known by analyzing packet data. When the transmission signal of an error packet is punctured and that of a re-transmission packet is not punctured, the sphere decoder  202  receives the radius d of sphere to perform a normal operation for bit data at punctured positions upon generation of an error packet. As for the remaining bit data, the storage unit  213   a  holds the data upon generation of an error packet, and supplies the data as a start point for search to the sphere decoder  202 .  
      An ARQ control unit  201  and the error packet data storage unit  213  execute these control operations. The ARQ control unit  201  supplies the start searching area d to the sphere decoder  202  when bit data are depunctured to decode the punctured bit positions. In other cases, the ARQ control unit  201  performs decoding using a value read out from the error packet data storage unit  213  as a start point for search. These procedures can implement a hybrid ARQ.  
      By performing a corresponding process, the communication apparatus can also cope with a case of changing the modulation method and also puncturing bits.  
      Even when the modulation method changes to one other than the above-mentioned QAM modulation, the fourth embodiment is applicable similarly to the above-described method as far as the difference between modulation methods is calculable. The fourth embodiment can also deal with a case of interleaving bits.  
      As described above, in the communication apparatus according to the fourth embodiment, when the transmission signals x 0  to xn are re-transmitted by changing their modulation method upon issuing an ARQ, the modulation method conversion unit  213   b  converts the modulation method of the decoded signals y 0  to ym containing a generated packet error before the change. The difference in modulation method between decoded signals y 0  to ym based on a modulation method before the change stored in the storage unit  213   a  of the error packet data storage unit  213  and decoded signals y 0  to ym re-transmitted after changing the modulation method can be used as a start point for search of the quasi-maximum-likelihood decoder. Thus, the decoding process can achieve high speed even upon a change of the modulation method in re-transmitting the transmission signals x 0  to xn.  
      As has been described above, the receiver and communication system according to the above embodiments can increase the efficiency of the decoding process using packet data with an error.  
      The above-described embodiments are merely examples, may not be construed to limit the scope of the present invention, and can be variously modified within the technical scope of the invention.  
      For example, the first to fourth embodiments adopt a sphere decoder as a quasi-maximum-likelihood decoder. However, the present invention is not limited to the sphere decoder, and even a quasi-maximum-likelihood decoder of another search type which narrows down, e.g., a rectangular block area to obtain a searching area can attain the same effects as those of the first to fourth embodiments by performing a decoding process using the decoded signals y 0  to ym containing a generated packet error as a start point for search.