Digital wireless communications have considerably changed not only the way people communicate, but also the way research is conducted in the field of telecommunications. In fact, the nature of the wireless medium has created a number of new challenging and fascinating research topics. In particular, a prerequisite for achieving higher and higher transmission rates in wireless systems is to develop strategies for efficiently dealing with the frequency selectivity of the wireless channel. A good candidate is the so-called cyclic prefixed block transmission, and in particular its two most popular variants which are the cyclic prefixed single-carrier (CPSC) and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulations. In this context, this thesis aims at analyzing and optimizing the use of cyclic prefixed block transmission for wireless communications. Firstly, this thesis contributes to the current state-of-the-art on the performance comparison between CPSC and OFDM, focusing on the derivation of analytical results when possible. If the channel state information is not available at the transmitter side, CPSC with minimum mean square error linear receiver is shown to achieve the best trade-off between performance and complexity, as it exploits the multipath diversity under some realistic hypotheses. Secondly, this thesis aims at using a system-based or cross-layer criterion, called goodput, for allocating resource in a coded OFDM system. Interestingly, the well-known waterfilling solution, when adequately parametrized, is proved to be near-optimal from a goodput point of view. Finally, this thesis discusses the possibility of improving the performance of a CPSC system by exploiting the cyclic prefix for equalization purposes.

All digital communication channels are subject to inter-symbol interference (ISI). To achieve the desired system performance, at receiver end, the effect of ISI must be compensated and the task of the equalizer is to combat the degrading effects of ISI on the transmission. Due to the demand of high data transmission rate, the multicarrier modulation (MCM) technique implemented with the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) has been adopted in many modern communications systems for block transmission. In block transmission systems, transmitter-included redundancy using finite-impulse response (FIR) filterbanks can be utilized to suppress inter-block-interference (IBI). However, the length of redundancy will affect the system performance, which is highly dependent on the length of channel impulse response. To deal with the effect of ISI, many equalizing schemes have been proposed, among them the FIR zero-forcing (ZF) equalizer with the non-orthogonal projector provides a useful transceiver design structure for suppressing the IBI and ISI, simultaneously. In this thesis, we propose a new equalizing scheme; it combines the FIR-ZF equalizer with non-orthogonal projector as well as the Bayesian decision feedback equalizer (DFE) for IBI and ISI suppression. The Bayesian DFE is known to be one of the best schemes to achieve the desired performance for eliminating ISI. It can be employed to achieve the full potential of symbol-by-symbol equalizer. That is, after removing the effect of IBI with the non-orthogonal projector, the Bayesian DFE is employed for eliminating the ISI, simultaneously. For comparison, the system performance, in term of bit error rate (BER) is investigated, and compared with the minimum mean square error (MMSE)-IBI-DFE. The advantage of the new proposed equalizing scheme is verified via computer simulation under condition of insufficient redundancy.

Previous studies have demonstrated that many existing communication systems can be formulated within a unified multirate filterbank transceiver model. A redundant block transmission system implemented via this unified multirate filterbank transceiver model is usually known as a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) system in literature. This dissertation devises an optimum linear block-based precoder and the corresponding equalizer for MIMO systems over perfect reconstruction (PR) channels by exploiting the proposed oblique projection framework. Particularly, two main criteria of interest in a digital communication link with limited transmission power are investigated, namely, average bit error rate (BER) minimization and mutual information rate maximization. The study framework is developed as follows. For a block-based precoder, a received signal model is formulated for the two redundancy schemes, viz., trailing-zeros (TZ) and cyclic-prefix (CP). By exploiting the property of oblique projection, a cascaded equalizer for block transmission systems (i.e., MIMO systems) is proposed and implemented with a scheme, in which the inter-block interference (IBI) is completely eliminated by the oblique projection and followed by a matrix degree of freedom for inter-symbol interference (ISI) equalization. With the available channel state information at the transmitter side, the matrix for ISI equalization of the cascaded equalizer is utilized to design an optimum linear block-based precoder, such that the BER is minimized (or the mutual information rate is maximized), subject to the ISI-free and the transmission power constraints. Accordingly, the cascaded equalizer with the ISI-free constraint yields a cascaded ZF equalizer. Theoretical derivations and simulation results confirm that the proposed framework not only retains identical BER and information rate performances to previous works for cases with sufficient redundancy, but also allows their results to be extended to the cases of insufficient redundancy.

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulator with redundancy has been adopted in many wireless communication systems for higher data rate transmissions. The introduced redundancy at the transmitter allows us to overcome serious inter-block interference (IBI) problems due to highly dispersive channel. However, the selection of redundancy length will affect the system performance and spectral efficiency, and is highly dependent on the length of channel impulse response. In this thesis, based on the pseudorandom postfix (PRP) OFDM scheme we propose a novel block-based OFDM transceiver framework. Since in the PRP-OFDM system the PRP can be employed for semi-blind channel estimation with order-one statistics of the received signal. Hence, for sufficient redundancy case the PRP-OFDM system with the Bayesian decision feedback equalizer (DFE) is adopted for suppressing the IBI and ISI simultaneously. However, for the insufficient redundancy case (the length of redundancy is less than the order of channel), we first propose a modified scheme for channel estimation. To further reduce the complexity of receiver, the maximum shortening signal-to-noise-ratio time domain equalizer (MSSNR TEQ) with the Bayesian DFE is developed for suppressing the IBI and ISI, separately. That is, after knowing the channel state information (CSI) and removing the effect of IBI with MSSNR TEQ, the Bayesian DFE is applied for eliminating the ISI. Via computer simulation, we verify that performance improvement, in terms of bit error rate (BER), compared with the conventional block-based minimum mean square error (MMSE)-DFE can be achieved.

[pt] As comunicações sem fio são um dos pilares do desenvolvimento das novas gerações de comunicações móveis. Cada geração tem usado alguma técnica de acesso múltiplo para aproveitar os recursos do canal. Esta dissertação apresenta uma análise de duas técnicas de multiplexação ortogonal. Ambas técnicas implementam a transmissão em blocos, onde uma delas se combina com a abordagem Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), enquanto a outra usa a técnica de transmissão multiportadora Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM). O desempenho e a ocupação espectral de ambas técnicas e as suas vantagens são analisados neste trabalho. Expressões analíticas para a Densidade Espectral de Potência dos sinais foram obtidas e permitiram estabelecer comparações entre os dois métodos. O estudo dessas técnicas de multiplexação é realizado em diferentes canais de propagação para avaliar o comportamento de ambos sistemas de uma forma geral. Os três tipos de canais avaliados neste trabalho são: linear e invariante no tempo, linear e variante no tempo e, finalmente, não linear e invariante no tempo. Cada tipo de canal foi modelado em forma matricial para ambos sistemas de forma independente. As simulações consideram os equalizadores Zero Forcing e Minimum Mean Square Error, assumindo um canal conhecido. / [en] Wireless communications are one of the pillars of the development of the new generations of mobile communications. Each generation has used some multiple access technique to take advantage of the channel s resources. This dissertation presents an analysis of two orthogonal multiplexing techniques. Both techniques implement block transmission, where one is combined with the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) approach, while the other uses the multicarrier transmission technique Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM). The performance and spectral occupation of both techniques and their advantages are analyzed. Analytical expressions for the Power Spectral Density of the signals were obtained, which allowed establishing comparisons between both methods. The study of these multiplexing techniques is carried out in different propagation channels to evaluate the behavior of both systems in general. The three types of channels evaluated in this work are linear and time-invariant, linear and time-variant and, finally, non-linear and time-invariant. Each type of channel was modeled in matrix form for both systems independently. The simulations consider the Zero Forcing and Minimum Mean Squared Error equalizers, assuming a known channel.

[pt] Este trabalho apresenta uma análise detalhada de uma recente proposta de combinação da transmissão em blocos com portadora única e a técnica CDMA, referida como CS-CDMA (Chip Spread CDMA). Uma característica marcante desta técnica de transmissão é que diferentemente do que ocorre nos sistemas DS-CDMA, a ortogonalidade entre os códigos dos diferentes usuários é mantida mesmo quando a transmissão é feita através de um canal multipercurso seletivo em frequência, suposto invariante no tempo, permitindo assim que os usuários possam ser identicamente desacoplados na recepção. Além desta vantagem, resultados de desempenho indicaram uma significativa superioridade deste sistema sobre o tradicional DS-CDMA. Entretanto comparações existentes, consideraram apenas o up-link, do sistema e adotaram algumas premissas, que incluem, a utilização de códigos ortogonais pelos diversos usuários e a suposição de canais de transmissão invariantes no tempo. O presente trabalho apresenta uma análise detalhada da técnica (CS-CDMA e uma análise comparativa dos sistemas em condições menos favoráveis. Os sistemas operam em ambientes invariante e variante no tempo, com códigos ortogonais e não ortogonais e em dois cenários diferentes, down- link e up-link. Os resultados consideram recepção com equalização no domínio da frequência utilizando equalizadores do tipo ZF (Zero Forcing) e MMSE (Minimum Mean Squared Error). Simulações foram realizadas no intuito de se avaliar o desempenho dos dois sistemas considerados. Curvas de probabilidade de erro foram obtidas e ilustram e comparam tais desempenhos em diferentes situações e cenários de interesse. / [en] This dissertation proposes detailed analysis of a recent combined mechanism for transmission in blocks with a single carrier and CDMA technique known as Chip Spread CDMA (CS-CDMA). An important feature of this transmission technique is that unlike what happens in Direct Sequence (DS-CDMA) systems, the orthogonality between codes of different users is maintained even when the transmission, considered time-invariant, is made through a selective multipath channel frequency, which ideally allows users to be uncoupled in reception. However, existing comparisons only consider the up-link transmission and adopt certain assumptions, which include orthogonal codes for different users and time invariant channels. This technique have shown a significant superiority as compared with the traditional DS-CDMA. A comparison of (CS-CDMA systems in more realistic conditions are presented in this work. Various environments were tested in the presence of BPSK modulation systems, as well as invariant and time-varying transmission. Comparison between scenarios down-link and up-link are also presented. The results consider equalized reception in the frequency domain using the ZF (Zero Forcing) equalizers and MMSE (Minimum Mean Squared Error). Simulations were carried out in order to evaluate the performance of the two systems considered. Error probability curves were obtained to illustrate and compare the performances in different situations and scenarios.

[pt] Além de apresentar uma visão unificada das técnicas de transmissão digital em blocos e suas combinações com a técnica de múltiplo acesso CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), esta dissertação examina uma nova possível técnica de transmissão para sistemas com múltiplo acesso, aqui chamada CS-CDMA (Chip-Spread Code Division Multiple Access), combinada com as técnicas de transmissão em blocos, em portadora única (SC-Single Carrier ), gerando o esquema SC CS-CDMA, e em múltiplas portadoras OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing), gerando o esquema MC CSCDMA. Comparações de desempenho com os sistemas de transmissão por blocos CDMA de portadora única conhecido como SC CDMA (Single Carrier Code Division Multiple Access) e de múltiplas portadoras conhecido como MC CDMA (Multi Carrier Code Division Multiple Access) são apresentadas. Uma característica marcante da técnica de transmissão enfocada é que, diferentemente do que ocorre nos sistemas CDMA, a ortogonalidade entre os códigos dos diferentes usuários é mantida mesmo quando a transmissão é feita atravéss de um canal multipercurso seletivo na frequência, permitindo assim que os usuários possam ser idealmente desacoplados na recepção. Além desta vantagem, e muito devido a ela, os resultados de desempenho, obtidos via simulação, indicam uma significativa superioridade do sistema proposto CSCDMA, quando os sinais são transmitidos em portadora única, sobre o tradicional CDMA. Os resultados consideram recepção com equalização no domínio da frequéncia utilizando equalizadores do tipo ZF (Zero Forcing) e MMSE (Minimum Mean Squared Error). / [en] In addition to presenting a unified view of digital blocks transmission technologies and their combinations with the technique of multiple access CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), this dissertation addresses a new possible transmission technique for multiple access sytem, called here CS -CDMA (Chip-Spread Code Division Multiple Access), combined with blocks transmissions techniques, in single carrier (SC- Single Carrier ), generating scheme SC CS-CDMA, and in multi carrier OFDM (Ortogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing), generating escheme MC CS-CDMA. Performance comparisons with the traditional SC CDMA (Single Carrier Code Division Multiple Access) and MC CDMA (Multi Carrier Code Division Multiple Access) block transmission systemare presented. A key feature of the proposed transmission technique is that, differently from what occurs with CDMA, the original code orthogonality between users is preserved despite propagation through multipath frequency selective channels, thus ideally allowing the decoupling of the signals at the receiver side. Beyond this advantage, and mostly due to it, the performance results indicate a clear superiority of the proposed system CS-CDMA, over the traditional CDMA, when signals are transmitted in single carrier. The simulation results consider frequency domain ZF (Zero Forcing) and MMSE (Minimum Mean Squared Error).