Code Division Multiple Access

Taufeeq malik
Lovely Professional University

Abstract
Code division multiple access (CDMA) is
a channel access method used by various radio
communication
technologies.
CDMA
is
the
digital cellular
technology
that
uses spread
spectrum techniques. Unlike competing systems, such
as GSM, that use TDMA, CDMA does not assign a
specific frequency to each user. Instead, every channel
uses the full available spectrum. Individual conversations
are encoded with a pseudo-randomised digital sequence.
CDMA consistently provides better capacity for voice
and data communications than other commercial mobile
technologies, allowing more subscribers to connect at any
given time, and it is the common platform on which 3G
technologies are built.
Introduction
CDMA
is a channel access method used by the
various radio communication technologies.
CDMA is an example of multiple access, which is where
several transmitters can send information simultaneously
over a single communication channel. This allows several
users to share a band of frequencies (see bandwidth). To
permit this without undue interference between the users,
CDMA employs spread-spectrum technology and a
special coding scheme (where each is assigned a code).
CDMA is utilized as one of access methods in
many mobile
phone
utilization
standards such
as cdmaOne, CDMA2000 (the 3G evolution
of
cdmaOne), and WCDMA (the 3G standard used
by GSM carriers), which are often referred to as
simply CDMA.
History
CDMA is a military technology first used during World
War II by English allies to foil German attempts at
jamming transmissions. The allies decided to transmit
over several frequencies, instead of one, making it
difficult for the Germans to pick up the complete signal.

Because Qualcomm created communications chips for

CDMA technology, it was privy to the classified
information. Once the information became public,
Qualcomm claimed patents on the technology and became
the first to commercialize it.

The Cellular Challenge

The world's first cellular networks were introduced in the
early 1980s, using analog radio transmission technologies
such as AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System).
Within a few years, cellular systems began to hit a
capacity ceiling as millions of new subscribers signed up
for service, demanding more and more airtime. Dropped
calls and network busy signals became common in many
areas. To accommodate more traffic within a limited
amount of radio spectrum, the industry developed a new
set of digital wireless technologies called TDMA (Time
Division Multiple Access) and GSM (Global System for
Mobile). TDMA and GSM used a time-sharing protocol
to provide three to four times more capacity than analog
systems. But just as TDMA was being standardized, an
even better solution was found in CDMA.

Commercial Development
The founders of QUALCOMM realized that CDMA
technology could be used in commercial cellular
communications to make even better use of the radio
spectrum than other technologies. The first CDMA
networks were commercially launched in 1995, and
provided roughly 10 times more capacity than analog
networks - far more than TDMA or GSM. Since then,
CDMA has become the fastest-growing of all wireless
technologies, with over 100 million subscribers
worldwide. In addition to supporting more traffic, CDMA
brings many other benefits to carriers and consumers,
including better voice quality, broader coverage and
stronger security.

Add in exciting Third-Generation (3G) wireless data

services and applications - such as wireless email, web,
digital picture taking/sending and assisted-GPS position
location applications- and wireless networks are asked to
do much more than just a few years ago. And these
networks will be asked to do more tomorrow. This is
where CDMA technology fits in. CDMA consistently
provides better capacity for voice and data
communications than other commercial mobile
technologies, allowing more subscribers to connect at any
given time, and it is the common platform on which 3G
technologies are built. CDMA is a "spread spectrum"
technology, allowing many users to occupy the same time
and frequency allocations in a given band/space. As its
name implies, CDMA assigns unique codes to each
communication to differentiate it from others in the same
spectrum.
Working of CDMA
CDMA takes an entirely different approach from TDMA.
CDMA, after digitizing data, spreads it outover the entire
available bandwidth. Multiple calls are overlaidon each
other on the channel,with each assigned a unique
sequence code. CDMA is a formof spread spectrum,
which simply means that data is sent in small pieces over
a number of the discrete frequencies available for use at
any time in the specified range

All of the users transmit in the same wide-bandchunk of

spectrum. Each user's signal is spread over the entire
bandwidth by a unique spreading code. At the receiver,
that sameunique code is used to recover the signal.
Because CDMA systems need to put an accurate timestamp on each piece of a signal, it references the
GPSsystem for this information. Between eight and 10
separate calls can be carried inthe same channel space as
one analog AMPS call.

Spread Spectrum Communications technology in

CDMA
CDMA is a form of Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum
communications. In general, Spread Spectrum
communications is distinguished by three key elements:
1. The signal occupies a bandwidth much greater than
that which is necessary to send the information. This
results in many benefits, such as immunity to interference
and jamming and multi-user access, which well discuss
later on.
2. The bandwidth is spread by means of a code which is
independent of the data. The independence of the code
distinguishes this from standard modulation schemes in
which the data modulation will always spread the
spectrum somewhat.
3. The receiver synchronizes to the code to recover the
data. The use of an independent code and synchronous
reception allows multipleusers to access the same
frequency band at the same time.
In order to protect the signal, the code used is pseudorandom. It appears random, but is actually deterministic,
so that the receiver can reconstruct the code for
synchronous detection. This pseudo-random code is also
called pseudo-noise (PN).

Three
Types
Communications

of

Spread

Spectrum

Frequency hopping.
The signal is rapidly switched between different
frequencies within the hopping bandwidth pseudorandomly, and the receiver knows before hand where to
find the signal at any given time.

Time hopping.
The signal is transmitted in short bursts pseudorandomly, and the receiver knows beforehand when to
expect the burst.
Direct sequence.
The digital data is directly coded at a much higher
frequency. The code is generated pseudo-randomly, the
receiver knows how to generate the same code, and
correlates the received signal with that code to extract the
data.
Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum

signals.These signals can be digitized voice, ISDN

channels, modem data, etc.

Signal transmission consists of the following

steps:
1. A pseudo-random code is generated, different for
each channel and each successive connection.
2. The Information data modulates the pseudorandom code (the Information data is spread).
3. The resulting signal modulates a carrier.
4. The modulated carrier is amplified and broadcast.
Signal reception consists of the following steps:
1. The carrier is received and amplified.
2. The received signal is mixed with a local carrier to
recover the spread digital signal.
3. A pseudo-random code is generated, matching the
anticipated signal.
4. The receiver acquires the received code and phase
locks its own code to it.
5. The received signal is correlated with the
generated code, extracting the Information data.

Implementing CDMA Technology

The following sections describe how a system might
implement the steps illustrated in Figure 1.
Input data
CDMA works on Information data from several
possible sources, such as digitized voice or ISDN
channels. Data rates can vary, here are some
examples:
Fig.1
CDMA is a Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum system.
The CDMA system works directly on 64 kbit/sec digital

The system works with 64 kBits/sec data, but can

accept input rates of 8, 16, 32, or 64 kBits/sec.
Inputs of less than 64 kBits/sec are padded with
extra bits to bring them up to 64 kBits/sec.

symbol. The four states are phase shifts of the carrier

spaced 90_ apart. By convention, the phase shifts are 45,
135, 225, and 315 degrees. Since there are four possible
states used to encode binary information, each state
represents two bits. This two bit word is called a
symbol.
General Specification of CDMA

Rx: Rx 869-894MHz

Tx: 824-849MHz

20 Channels spaced 1250kHz apart (798 users/channel)

For inputs of 8, 16, 32, or 64 kBits/sec, the system

applies Forward Error Correction (FEC) coding, which
doubles the bit rate, up to 128 kbits/sec. The Complex
Modulation \scheme (which well discuss in more detail
later), transmits two bits at a time, in two bit symbols.
For inputs of less than 64 kbits/sec,each symbol is
repeated to bring the transmission rate up to 64
kilosymbols/sec. Each component of the complex signal
carries one bit of the two bit symbol, at 64 kBits/sec, as
shown below.

QPSK/(Offset) OQPSK modulation scheme

1.2288Mbps bit rate
IS-95 standard
Operates at both 800 and 1900 MHz frequency bands
Advantages of CDMA techniques:
1. Flexible allocation of resources.
2. Many users of CDMA use the same frequency,
TDD or FDD may be used
3. Multipath fading may be substantially reduced
because of large signal bandwidth
4. No absolute limit on the number of users, Easy
addition of more users.
5. Impossible for hackers to decipher the code sent
6. Better signal quality
7. No sense of handoff when changing cells
8. The CDMA channel is nominally 1.23 MHz wide.
9. CDMA networks use a scheme called soft handoff,
which minimizes signal breakup as a handset
passes from one cell to another.
10. CDMA is compatible with other cellular
technologies; this allows for nationwide roaming.

Transmitting Data

11. The combination of digital and spread-spectrum

modes supports several times as many signals per
unit bandwidth as analog modes.

The resultant coded signal next modulates an RF carrier

for transmission using Quadrature Phase Shift Keying
(QPSK). QPSK uses four different states to encode each

12. Efficient practical utilization of fixed frequency

spectrum.

Disadvantages to using CDMA:

Bibliography

1.As the number of users increases, the overall [1] Lee JS and Miller LM, CDMA System Engineering
Handbook, Arttech Publishing House, 1998
quality of service decreases
2.Self-jamming
3.Near- Far- problem arises
CDMA Applications
One of the early applications for code division
multiplexing is in GPS. This predates and is distinct from
its use in mobile phones.
1. The Qualcomm standard IS-95, marketed as
cdmaOne.
2. The Qualcomm standard IS-2000, known as
CDMA2000. This standard is used by several
mobile phone companies, including the
Globalstar satellite phone network.
3. The UMTS 3G mobile phone standard, which
uses W-CDMA.
4. CDMA has been used in the OmniTRACS
satellite system for transportation logistics.
5. Navigation Purpose
6. Real time stock of different exchanges

Conclusion
The basic problem of cellular traffic is removed by the
use of CDMA. It provides about 10 times more capacity
then analog networks- far more then TDMA & GSM
systems. CDMA is a "spread spectrum" technology,
allowing many users to occupy the same time and
frequency allocations in a given band/space. CDMA
consistently provides better capacity for voice and data
communications.

[2] Viterbi A, CDMA-Spread Spectrum Communication,

Addison Wesley 1995.
[3] Ageev, D. V. (1935). "Bases of the Theory of Linear
Selection. Code Demultiplexing". Proceedings of the
Leningrad Experimental Institute of Communication: 3
35.
[4] http://www.webopedia.com
[5]http://www.thestudymaterial.com/presentationseminar/electronics-presentation/52-cdma.html?start=4
[6]http://wirelessresource.blogspot.in/2012/07/what-iscdma-advantage-disadvantage-and_4266.html