Timing and frequency synchronization of OFDM signals

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of performing calculations on said samples to evaluate a timing metric comprises the steps of: a) computing a sum of vector products ##EQU8## where {r i } are complex values of the samples and d is a timing index; b) computing a number ##EQU9## c) computing the timing metric by M(d)=|P(d)| 2 /(R(d)) 2 ; d) incrementing the timing index d; and e) repeating steps a), b), c), and d) for successive timing points in order to determine an index d opt which maximizes said timing metric and indicates an optimal symbol/frame timing point for proper timing synchronization of said receiver to said OFDM signal; whereby said receiver can achieve timing synchronization with said OFDM signal, enabling said receiver to demodulate said OFDM signal in order to recover data encoded thereon.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein said OFDM signal is transmitted to said receiver on a transmit carrier of frequency f ct , the method further comprising the steps of: a) computing a sum of vector products ##EQU10## where {r i } are complex values of the samples and d opt is a correct timing point; and b) computing an angle, φ; of said sum of vector products such that φ(π·T s ), where T s is a symbol interval, is an estimate of a carrier frequency offset Δf c ; whereby said receiver can estimate said carrier frequency offset to a maximum of ±1/T s , the estimate enabling said receiver to synchronize to the frequencies of the OFDM sub-carriers and thereby minimize inter-carrier interference.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein said first OFDM training symbol comprises even-numbered sub-carriers modulated by a first predetermined PN sequence of frequency-domain sub-symbols, and wherein said OFDM signal also comprises a second OFDM training symbol, said second OFDM training symbol comprising even-numbered sub-carriers modulated by a second predetermined PN sequence of frequency-domain sub-symbols, the method further comprising the steps of: a) correcting each sample of said first OFDM training symbol and said second OFDM training symbol in order to obtain samples that are partially-corrected for carrier frequency offset; b) performing a discrete Fourier transform on said partially-corrected samples to obtain sequences of frequency-domain sub-symbols x 1 ,k and x 2 ,k corresponding to said first OFDM training symbol and said second OFDM training symbol, respectively; c) computing a carrier frequency offset metric, said carrier frequency offset metric utilizing a differential modulation between said second OFDM training symbol and said first OFDM training symbol such that said carrier frequency offset metric indicates a remaining carrier frequency offset; whereby said receiver can estimate said carrier frequency offset including offsets of many sub-carrier bandwidths, enabling said receiver to synchronize to the frequencies of said sub-carriers, minimize ICI, and demodulate said OFDM signal to recover data encoded thereon.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4 wherein the differential modulation of the even-numbered frequencies of said second OFDM training symbol relative to said first OFDM training symbol is given by a predetermined sequence v k and wherein the step of computing a carrier frequency offset metric comprises the steps of: a) using said frequency-domain sub-symbols x 1 ,k and x 2 ,k, computing a carrier frequency offset metric, B(g), according to the equation: ##EQU11## or an equivalent thereof, wherein g is an integer corresponding to a carrier frequency offset of 2·g sub-carriers, X is a set of indices for the even-numbered sub-carriers such that X={-N, -N+2, . . . , -4, 2, 2, 4, . . . , N-2, N}, and N is a number of even-numbered frequencies modulated with the differentially modulated PN sequence v k ; and, b) repeating step a) for a range of possible carrier frequency offsets in order to determine an integer g correct which maximizes said frequency offset metric B(g), such that the integer 2·g correct indicates a remaining carrier frequency offset in terms of sub-carrier bandwidths; whereby said receiver can estimate said carrier frequency offset including offsets of many sub-carrier bandwidths, enabling said receiver to synchronize to the frequencies of said sub-carriers, minimize ICI, and demodulate said OFDM signal to recover data encoded thereon.

Claim 7

The method of claim 4 wherein said first predetermined PN sequence and said second predetermined PN sequence consist only of QPSK sub-symbols, said QPSK sub-symbols forming a phase-quadrature constellation.

Claim 8

The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of: a) correcting said sequences of frequency-domain sub-symbols x 1 ,k and x 2 ,k for a remainder of the carrier frequency offset, thereby producing two sets of frequency components y 1 ,k and x 2 ,k ', respectively; b) removing a differential modulation on the second sequence of frequency components x 2 ,k ' to obtain a non-differentially modulated sequence of frequency components, y 2 ,k ; and, c) computing an estimated value for a phase rotation, θ, of the first sub-carrier during a symbol-plus-guard interval, T s +T g , according to the equation: ##EQU12## or an equivalent thereof, said phase rotation corresponding to a sampling frequency offset, Δf ck , according to the equations: θ=π·Δ t/T.sub.s and Δf.sub.ck =f.sub.ck Δt/(T.sub.s +T.sub.g), wherein Δt is a sampling time error that accumulates in a time T s +T g due to said sampling frequency offset; whereby said receiver can estimate said sampling frequency offset, enabling said receiver to synchronize to said OFDM signal and thereby avoid an increase in BER due to said sampling frequency offset as said receiver demodulates said OFDM signal to recover data encoded thereon.

Claim 9

The method of claim 7 wherein odd-numbered sub-carriers of said second OFDM training symbol are modulated by a predetermined third PN sequence of OFDM frequency-domain sub-symbols such that said third PN sequence can be used for channel estimation of said odd-numbered sub-carriers.

Claim 12

The method of claim 9 wherein even-numbered sub-carriers of said first OFDM training symbol are modulated by a first predetermined PN sequence of frequency-domain sub-symbols and wherein said OFDM signal also comprises a second OFDM training symbol, said second OFDM training symbol comprising even numbered sub-carriers modulated by a second predetermined PN sequence of frequency-domain sub-symbols such that a differential modulation on the even-numbered sub-carriers of said second OFDM training symbol relative to said first OFDM training symbol is given by a sequence v k , the method further comprising the steps of: a) correcting each sample of said first OFDM training symbol and said second OFDM training symbol in order to obtain samples that are partially-corrected for carrier frequency offset; b) performing a discrete Fourier transform on said partially-corrected samples to obtain sequences of frequency-domain sub-symbols x 1 ,k and x 2 ,k corresponding to said first OFDM training symbol and said second OFDM training symbol, respectively; c) computing a remaining carrier frequency offset; d) correcting said sequences of frequency-domain sub-symbols x 1 ,k and x 2 ,k for the remaining carrier frequency offset, thereby producing two sequences of frequency components y 1 ,k and x 2 ,k ', respectively; e) removing a differential modulation on the second sequence of frequency components x 2 ,k ' to obtain a non-differentially modulated sequence of frequency components, y 2 ,k ; and, e) computing an estimated value for the phase rotation, θ, of a first sub-carrier during a symbol plus guard interval, T s +T g , according to the equation: ##EQU14## or an equivalent thereof, said phase rotation corresponding to a sampling frequency offset, Δf ck , according to the equations: θ=π·Δ t/(T.sub.s +T.sub.g) and Δf.sub.ck =f.sub.ck Δt/T.sub.s wherein at is the sampling time error that accumulates in a time T s +T g due to said sampling frequency offset; whereby said receiver can estimate said sampling frequency offset, enabling said receiver to synchronize to said OFDM signal and thereby avoid an increase in BER due to said sampling frequency offset as said receiver demodulates said OFDM signal to recover data encoded thereon.

Claim 13

The method of claim 9 wherein the step of determining the correct timing synchronization of said OFDM signal comprises the step of performing calculations on said samples to evaluate a timing metric, said timing metric utilizing the half-symbol symmetry of said first OFDM training symbol such that said timing metric indicates the correct timing point, d opt , whereby said receiver can achieve timing synchronization with said OFDM signal, enabling said receiver to demodulate said OFDM signal in order to recover data encoded thereon.

Claim 14

The method of claim 11 wherein the step of performing calculations on said samples in order to determine the correct timing synchronization comprises the steps of: a) using said samples, computing a sum of vector products according to the equation: ##EQU15## wherein timing index, d, is an integer that represents a timing point corresponding to a sampling instant of a first of 2L consecutive complex-valued samples used in the equation, and wherein L is a number of complex samples in one half of an OFDM symbol; b) using a second half of said 2L complex-valued samples, computing a number ##EQU16## c) computing a timing metric M(d)=|P(d)| 2 /(R(d)) 2 ; d) incrementing said timing index; and, e) repeating steps a), b), c), and d) for successive timing points in order to determine an index d opt which maximizes said timing metric and indicates an optimal frame/symbol timing point for proper timing synchronization of said receiver to said OFDM signal; whereby said receiver can achieve timing synchronization with said OFDM signal, enabling said receiver to demodulate said OFDM signal in order to recover data encoded thereon.

Claim 15

The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of computing a carrier frequency offset metric, said carrier frequency offset metric utilizing a differential modulation between said first OFDM training symbol and said second OFDM training symbol such that said carrier frequency offset metric indicates the remaining carrier frequency offset; whereby said receiver can estimate said carrier frequency offset including offsets of many sub-carrier bandwidths, enabling the receiver to synchronize to the frequencies of said sub-carriers, minimize ICI, and demodulate said OFDM signal to recover data encoded thereon.

Claim 16

The method of claim 13 wherein said first predetermined PN sequence and said second predetermined PN sequence consist only of QPSK sub-symbols, said QPSK sub-symbols forming a phase-quadrature constellation, in order to simplify the required computations.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13 wherein the differential modulation on the even-numbered frequencies of said second OFDM training symbol relative to said first OFDM training symbol is given by the sequence v k and wherein the step of computing a carrier frequency offset metric comprises the steps of: a) using said frequency-domain sub-symbols x 1 ,k and x 2 ,k, computing the carrier frequency offset metric according to the equation ##EQU17## or equivalent thereof, wherein g is an integer corresponding to an offset of 2·g sub-carriers, X is a set of indices for even-numbered sub-carriers such that X={-N, -N+2, . . . , -4, 2, 2, 4, . . . , N-2, N}, and N is a number of even-numbered frequencies modulated with the differentially modulated PN sequence v k ; and, b) repeating step a) for a range of possible carrier frequency offsets in order to determine an integer g correct which maximizes said frequency offset metric such that the integer 2·g correct indicates the remaining carrier frequency offset measured in terms of sub-carrier bandwidths; whereby said receiver can estimate said carrier frequency offset including offsets of many sub-carrier bandwidths, enabling the receiver to synchronize to the frequencies of said sub-carriers, minimize ICI, and demodulate said 0FDM signal to recover data encoded thereon.

Claim 18

The method of claim 13 wherein odd-numbered sub-carriers of said second OFDM training symbol are modulated by a predetermined third PN sequence of OFDM frequency-domain sub-symbols such that said third PN sequence can be used for channel estimation of said odd-numbered sub-carriers.

Claim 21

The method of claim 17, said method further comprising the steps of: a) creating a second OFDM training symbol, said second OFDM training symbol comprising even-numbered sub-carriers modulated by a second predetermined PN sequence of frequency-domain sub-symbols; b) transmitting said second OFDM training symbol within said OFDM signal frame; whereby acquiring frequency synchronization to said OFDM signal may be accomplished by utilizing the half-symbol symmetry of said first OFDM training symbol along with the differential modulation on the second OFDM training symbol relative to that of said first OFDM training symbol in order to estimate carrier frequency offset.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said computing means for evaluating a timing metric performs operations comprising the steps of: a) using said samples, computing a sum of vector products according to the equation: ##EQU18## wherein the timing index, d, is an integer that represents the timing point corresponding to a sampling instant of the first of 2L consecutive samples used in the equation, and wherein L is a number of samples in one half of an OFDM symbol; b) using a second half of said 2L samples, computing a number ##EQU19## c) computing a timing metric M(d)=|P(d)| 2 /(R(d)) 2 ; d) incrementing said timing index; and, e) repeating steps a), b), c), and d) for successive timing points in order to determine an index d opt which maximizes said timing metric and indicates an optimal symbol/frame timing point for proper timing synchronization of said receiver to said OFDM signal; whereby said receiver can achieve timing synchronization with said OFDM signal, enabling said receiver to demodulate said OFDM signal in order to recover data encoded thereon.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said OFDM signal exhibits a carrier frequency offset Δf c , the apparatus further comprising: a) computing means for computing a FFT of OFDM symbols from their corresponding 2L samples in order to produce sequences of frequency-domain sub-symbols; b) computing means for performing the following computations in order to estimate said carrier frequency offset: b.i) computing the angle, φ, of said sum of vector products, P(d), for d=d opt such that φ(π·T s ) is an estimate of the fractional part of said carrier frequency offset when said carrier frequency offset is measured in terms of a fractional part, φ/(π·T s ), and an integer part, (2·z/T s ), where z is an integer; b.ii) correcting each sample of said first OFDM training symbol and said second OFDM training symbol in order to obtain partially-corrected training symbol samples; b.iii) computing a carrier frequency offset metric ##EQU20## or an equivalent thereof, wherein g is an integer corresponding to a carrier frequency offset of 2 g sub-carrier frequencies, X is the set of indices for the even-numbered sub-carriers such that X={-N, -N+2, . . . , -4, 2, 2, 4, . . . , N-2, N}, and N is the number of even-numbered frequencies that were modulated with the differentially modulated PN sequence; and b.iv) repeating the computation of step b.iii) for the range of possible whole-number carrier frequency offsets in order to determine an integer g correct which maximizes said frequency offset metric, such that the integer 2·g correct indicates said whole number part of said carrier frequency offset, whereby said receiver may use the estimated values of carrier frequency offset to synchronize to the sub-carriers of said OFDM signal, thereby enabling the receiver to demodulate said sequences OFDM frequency-domain sub-symbols from said sub-carriers in order to recover said baseband data.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said first PN sequence and said second PN sequence consists only of QPSK sub-symbols, said QPSK sub-symbols forming a phase-quadrature constellation.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said OFDM signal has a sampling rate offset of Δf ck , the apparatus further comprising a computing means for performing the following computations in order to estimate said sampling rate offset: a) removing said whole number part of the estimated carrier frequency offset from said frequency-domain sub-symbols x 1 ,k and x 2 ,k, thereby producing two sequences of frequency components y 1 ,k and x 2 ,k ', respectively, which are corrected for carrier frequency offset; b) removing the differential modulation on the second set of frequency components x 2 ,k ' to obtain a non-differentially modulated second set of frequency components, y 2 ,k ; c) computing an estimated value for the phase rotation, θ, of the first sub-carrier during a symbol-plus-guard interval, T s +T g , according to the equation: ##EQU21## or an equivalent thereof, said phase rotation corresponding to said sampling frequency offset according to the equation: θ=π·Δ t/T.sub.s and f.sub.ck =f.sub.ck Δt/(T.sub.s +T.sub.g) wherein Δt is a sampling time error that accumulates in a time T s +T g due to said sampling frequency offset; whereby said receiver estimates the sampling rate offset, thereby enabling said receiver to achieve sampling rate synchronization and thereby avoid an increase in BER due to said sampling frequency offset as said receiver demodulates said OFDM signal to recover data encoded thereon.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said OFDM signal has a sampling rate offset of Δf ck , the apparatus further comprising a computing means for performing the following computations in order to estimate said sampling rate offset: a) removing said whole number part of the estimated carrier frequency offset from said frequency-domain sub-symbols x 1 ,k and x 2 ,k, thereby producing two sequences of frequency components y 1 ,k and x 2 ,k ', respectively, which are corrected for carrier frequency offset; b) removing the differential modulation on the second set of frequency components x 2 ,k ' to obtain a non-differentially modulated second set of frequency components, y 2 ,k ; c) computing an estimated value for the phase rotation, θ, of the first sub-carrier during a symbol plus guard interval, T s +T g , according to the equation: ##EQU22## or equivalent thereof, said phase rotation corresponding to said sampling frequency offset according to the equation: θ=π·Δ t/T.sub.s and Δf.sub.ck =f.sub.ck Δt/(T.sub.s +T.sub.g) wherein Δt is the sampling time error that accumulates in a time T s +T g due to said sampling frequency offset; whereby said receiver estimates the sampling rate offset, thereby enabling said receiver to achieve sampling rate synchronization and thereby avoid an increase in BER due to said sampling frequency offset as said receiver demodulates said OFDM signal to recover data encoded thereon.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said odd-numbered sub-carriers of said second OFDM training symbol are modulated by a predetermined third PN sequence of OFDM frequency-domain sub-symbols, said third PN sequence used for channel estimation of said odd-numbered sub-carriers.

Claim 30

The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said odd-numbered sub-carriers of said second OFDM training symbol are modulated by a predetermined third PN sequence of OFDM frequency-domain sub-symbols, said third PN sequence used for channel estimation of said odd-numbered sub-carriers.