Implementation of OFDM into Broadband Wireless Networks

Pavel Mach, Robert Bek Department of Telecommunication Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague Technick 2, 166 27 Prague 6, Czech Republic Email: machp2@fel.cvut.cz, bestar1@fel.cvut.cz

Abstract
In recent time new broadband wireless technologies such as Wifi and WiMAX emerged on the world markets. Due to its many advantages, OFDM has become the modern choice for these systems. This paper describes fundamental principles of OFDM and analyses its advantages and drawbacks. The article further introduces multiple access scheme for OFDM called OFDMA and considers its suitability for mobile environment. 1. Introduction Due to the spectacular growth of the wireless technologies and demands during the last few years, the need of a suitable modulation technique is needed. The main concern is to eliminate fading of the wireless channel, provide high data rates and also assure mobility for the users [1]. The problem of inter-symbol interference (ISI) introduced by the frequency selectivity of the channel is much more significant once the transmission date rates dramatically grew up. By using equalization techniques at

the receiver the ISI effects can be mitigated [2]. But there are many technical difficulties which lead to the high-cost hardware. The promising candidate that could eliminate the need of very complex equalization is OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) technique. The rest of the paper is organized as follows. The 2 section is dedicated to the description of essential principles of OFDM. Section 3 discusses the new access scheme of OFDM called OFDMA and there is evaluate its suitability for mobile environment. Further the comparison of OFDM and OFDMA is provided. The last section gives conclusions of the paper and describes the possible development in the future. 2. OFDM The beginning of OFDM can be dated into 1950s [3]. But in that time was practically impossible to generate such signal, and even harder to demodulate him. Thanks to explosive progression of DSP (Digital Signal Processor) [4], generating and demodulating of OFDM signal can be easily achieved.

OFDM has become one of the most interesting developments in the area of modern broadband wireless networks for couple of reasons: i) tolerance to multipath propagation and frequency selective fading, ii) impulse noise rejection and iii) high spectral efficiency [5]. Multipath interference occurs when multiple signals arrive at the receiver at the different time. This is caused by reflection off obstacles like buildings, trees, hills etc. and that leads to ISI. The use of many parallel sub-carriers enables much longer symbol duration which makes the signal more robust to multipath dispersion. Another mechanism which prevent to ISI is to create cyclically extended guard band that is known as cyclic prefix (CP), while the orthogonality of the tones is maintained [6]. Frequency selective fading affects certain frequencies of an overall transmission bandwidth (see figure 1). In case of single carrier modulation (e.g. CDMA), complex process of equalization is needed. On the other hand, OFDM only needs equalize the individual subchannels and thus process of equalization is much simplified. Level

Another distinguished characteristic of OFDM is ability to reject impulse noise [8]. OFDM spreads energy of an impulse noise over transmitted burst. The result is that instead of losing few symbols, the noise level is slightly increased. So the probability of rising of bit error rate (BER) is reduced. OFDM is based on frequency division multiplexing (FDM) [9], which is a technology using multiple frequencies to simultaneously transmit multiple signals in parallel. OFDM is similar to FDM, but OFDM is much more spectral efficient by spacing the sub-channels much closer together (see figure 2). In fact the required bandwidth is greatly reduced by removing guard bands and allowing signals to overlap.

FDM

Frequency

OFDM

Frequency

Figure 2. Comparison of FDM and OFDM technique [3]

Single carrier modulation

OFDM modulation

Figure 1. Single carrier and OFDM received signals [7]

It must be taken into consideration that OFDM subcarriers are packet tightly together and thus the sensitivity to frequency offset is increased. This frequency offset is a function of subcarrier spacing, the size of FFT and finally the used of modulation schemes. With the growing number of subcarriers also the high peak-to-average power ratio is much significant which highly requirements on the A/Ds, D/As

IFFT

S/P

P/S

and more importantly on the linearity of power amplifier imposes [5]. The frequency range between carriers is chosen to make them orthogonal to each other. The frequency spectrum of an OFDM is illustrated in figure 3. Thanks to orthogonality the individual carrier may overlap without introduction of ICI. The orthogonality can be achieved by carefully selecting of carrier spacing that must be equal to the reciprocal of the useful symbol period [10].

serial conversion. Following operation appended the last L points to the beginning of the sequence as the CP. After the shaping process (an effective way to reduce inter channel interference [5]), the resulting samples are transmitted. Each transmitted block is known as an OFDM symbol. At the receiver side the whole process is simply reversed.
s0 sK-1
demod.

+CP

shaping

D/A

FFT

S/P

-CP

timing

A/D

Figure 4. OFDM transceiver block diagram [5]

3. OFDMA
Figure 3. The frequency spectrum of an OFDM [3]

In OFDM three different types of subcarriers are distinguished [11]: i) data subcarriers, ii) pilot subcarriers and iii) null sub-carriers. Each data subcarrier can carry one or zero bit of information. Increasing of data throughput is achieved by using of phase shift keying (PSK) or quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). The pilot subcarriers provide a reference to minimize frequency and phase shift during the transmission. Finally the null subcarriers serve as guard band and DC carrier (centre frequency). OFDM realization is depicted on figure 4. At the side of transmitter, block of information is converted from serial to K parallel sub-carriers. In the next step orthogonal waveform modulation is executed by using of an IFFT (Inverse Fast Fourier Transform) and parallel to

Orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) offers new key features that can be utilized in mobile wireless broadband networks such as WiMAX or 4G systems. These features include i) uplink and downlink subchannelization, ii) potentially better frequency re-use and iii) scalability of FFT. OFDMA allows assigning subset of subcarriers to different users. In this mode, the active subcarriers are divided into subset of subcarriers termed as subchannel. The main purpose of this subchannelization is to support scalability, multiple access and advance antenna array processing capabilities. OFDMA also brings reduction of interference for user and improved NLOS (None Line of Sight) capabilities that are essential in mobile environment.

The principle of subchannelization is illustrated on figure 5. Carrier space is divided into NG groups. Each group contains NE carriers and thus NE subchannels are created. The type of coding and modulation are set separately for each subchannel. The subcarriers can be allocated to different users (one subchannel per one user) depending on the channel conditions. This characteristic is useful for operators who assign to these users most suitable subcarriers which leads to efficient use of resources.
OFDM

include DL-FUCS (Fully Used Subcarrier), DL-PUCS (Partially Used Subcarrier) and UL-PUSC permutations [10], [12]. The contiguous permutation groups a block of contiguous subcarriers to form subchannel.
OFDM
subchannels subcarriers

OFDMA

user 1

user 2

user 3
FFT symbol

time

Group 1

Group 2

OFDMA

Group N G

Figure 6. Uplink in OFDM and OFDMA [12]

NE carriers Pilot
Subchannel 1 Subchannel 2 Subchannel 3

Figure 5. Comparison of OFDM and OFDMA subcarriers allocation [12]

Subchannelization in the uplink direction brings another advantage. In OFDM, user device transmit over entire frequency band (see figure 6). OFDMA allows to users transmit only through the subchannels that are allocated to them. This utility brings power gain over OFDM systems. For the purpose of subchannelization two types of subcarrier permutations can be chosen: diversity and contiguous. In case of diversity permutation scheme subcarriers pseudo-randomly create subchannel. It provides frequency diversity and inter-cell interference averaging. The diversity permutations

OFDMA also offers better frequency re-use and consequently the higher throughput is accomplished. This is achieved thanks to complex subcarrier permutation and thus cell planning is much easier [13]. Additionally benefit over OFDMA brings scalable OFDMA (SOFDMA). The FFT scales its size to the channel bandwidth in order to keep constant carriers spacing. This brings higher spectral efficiency in wide channels and a cost reduction in narrow channels. 4. Conclusion The paper introduces OFDM and analyses its basic principles. The many advantages that OFDM offers are i) resistance to fading and interference ii) high spectral efficiency and iii) impulse noise rejection. But implementation of OFDM brings two drawbacks namely i)

sensitivity to frequency offset and ii) high peak-to-average power ratio. OFDM technology is very suitable for fixed and low mobile scenarios where the channel conditions are constant or slowly changing. On the other hand, OFDMA is perfectly fitting for fast mobile scenarios. In contrast to OFDMA, OFDM has already gone through the definition stage and proves itself in many systems such as CATV, ADSL or WiFi. That is the general reason why in the first place, the operators give way to OFDM in the near future. After fully implementation of OFDM, the wireless systems can smoothly move to OFDMA which can provide fully mobility to wireless users.

[6] Oltean, M. An Introduction to Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing [7] WiMAX forum: WiMAX technology for LOS and NLOS enviroments [8] Intel: Understanding WiMAX and 3G for Portable/Mobile Broadband Wireless Technical Overview and Comparison of WiMAX and 3G Technologies, December 2004 [9] Wolnicki, J.: The IEEE 802.16 WiMAX Broadband Wireless Access; Physical Layer (PHY), Medium Access Control Layer (MAC), Radio Resource Management (RRM), 2005 [10] IEEE: 802.16-2004 Standard for local and metropolitan area networks: Air Interface for Fixed Broadband Wireless Access Systems, IEEE Study Group 802.16, 2004. [11] WiMAX forum: Mobile WiMAX Part I: A Technical Overview and Performance Evaluation, February 2006 [12] WiMAX forum: Fixed, nomadic, portable and mobile applications for 802.16-2004 and 802.16e WiMAX networks, November 2005 [13] Dube, V. Can OFDM enhancement drive WiMAX mobility forward?, October 2005

5. Acknowledgement
This work has been performed in the framework of the FP6 project FIREWORKS IST-27675 STP, which is funded by the European Community. The Authors would like to acknowledge the contributions of their colleagues from FIREWORKS Consortium (http://fireworks.intranet.gp). References:
[1] Senol, H. Cirpan, H.A. Panayirci, E.: Frequency selective fading channel estimation in OFDM systems using KL expansion, 2005 [2] Falconer, D. Ariyavisitakul, S.L.: Frequency domain equalization for 2-11 GHz broadband wireless systems, 2001 [3] Matiae, D.: OFDM as a possible modulation technique for multimedia applications in the range of mm waves, 1998 [4] Smith, D.: Signals, Samples and Stuff: A DSP Tutorial, April 1998 [5] Liu, H. Li, G.: OFDM - Based Broadband Wireless Network Design and Optimalization, first edition, 2005, ISBN:0-471-72346-0