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At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Resource Allocation for Single Carrier Massive MIMO Systems

Resource allocation in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems is performed through allocating blocks of subcarriers to each user. Even though OFDM is the primary waveform for 5G NR systems, research reports have noted that single carrier modulation (SCM) offers several advantages over OFDM in massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems, making it a preferred candidate for some future applications such as massive machine type communications (mMTC). This paper presents a method for SCM resource allocation and the relevant information recovery algorithms at the receiver. Our emphasis is on cyclic prefixed SCM, where highly flexible and efficient frequency domain detection algorithms enable the operation of many simultaneous users in a massive MIMO uplink scenario. The proposed resource allocation method allows the number of users to exceed the number of antennas at the base station (BS). Each single carrier transmission is partitioned into L interleaved streams, and each user is allocated a number of such streams. One major benefit of SCM is that each data symbol is spread over the entire bandwidth. As such, the receiver performance is dictated by the average channel gain across the transmission band rather than the channel gain at a given frequency bin or a small group of frequencies. In the proposed setup, each stream may be thought of as a resource block in SCM, analogous to resource blocks in OFDM. Hence, in the context of this paper, the terms resource blocks and streams may be used interchangeably.

5G and Beyond Communications↗
DOE OSTI2022

Frequency Domain Detection and Precoding for Massive MIMO With Single Carrier Modulation

Single carrier modulation (SCM) schemes are attractive for uplink (UL) transmissions due to improved power efficiency at the user equipment (UE) transmitter compared with multi-carrier modulation schemes. In a massive MIMO scenario with SCM, the UL detection must mitigate the effects of inter-symbol interference and multiuser interference. This processing is effectively performed in the frequency domain (FD) using a minimum mean squared error (MMSE) detector when the transmission is framed with a cyclic prefix. This paper presents a MMSEbased detector that is compatible with distributed processing in a time-division duplex (TDD) system. The matrix inverses computed for the UL detection are then reused to perform multi-user precoding for the downlink (DL). We find that this scheme yields a tremendous savings in computational complexity compared to commonly used zero-forcing (ZF) precoding without sacrificing any performance. Since MMSE processing introduces a bias to the estimates, we then derive the scalar coefficients necessary to cancel the MMSE bias. The impact of channel estimation errors are analyzed for both the UL and DL cases in conjunction with a power-efficient approach to SCM channel estimation. Moreover, extensive simulations are performed to confirm our theoretical findings.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS2018

Exploration of Backscatter Methods for Wireless Avionics

This report describes and characterizes the low-power Jeeva Passive Radio systems, including Wanscatter (passive Chirp Spread Spectrum) and Passive Wi-Fi, with respect to their applicability to wireless avionics. The Wireless Avionics Intra-Communications (WAIC) objectives document, ITU-R M.2197, describes a number of applications of wireless avionics, and lists requirements specifications for each. Additionally, it describes models for compartments and areas of aircraft or vehicles in which wireless avionics would be applied. This exploratory study attempts to map Jeeva's Passive Radio technology to those scenarios outlined in the ITU-R M.2197 operational objectives document, and determine the areas and applications for which it is most suitable. Jeeva Passive Radio operates differently than conventional radios. In a conventional radio, a sensor-connected radio node must actively emit a signal in order to communicate. In a Jeeva Passive Radio system, that node instead simply reflects radio frequency energy which is emitted by another nearby device (called the Companion), which can be "plugged in" or otherwise has access to more power. Using reflections, a data packet can be generated and interpreted by a standard receiver. This method of communication inherently uses less energy, resulting in the potential for far lower power consumption and thus far longer battery life. Overall, 68.4% of use cases described by the ITU-R M.2197 operational objectives document were found to be addressable by Jeeva's Passive Radio systems (26 addressable of 38 total), with 26 of those best addressable by Wanscatter and three found to be best addressable with passive Wi-Fi. See Section 4.2 for a detailed breakdown of application suitability. The most fitting types of applications were in the LI (Low-rate Indoors) and LO (Low-rate Outdoors) categories, where lower rates were acceptable and thus Wanscatter could be applied and its much better uplink sensitivity leveraged. Jeeva has identified the Wanscatter (Chirp Spread Spectrum) system as likely holding the most promise for applications such as those outlined in the ITU-R M.2197 operational objectives document. We recommend that Wanscatter be a technology considered for adoption in wireless avionics.

Backscatter↗
DOE OSTI2022

Single Carrier Modulation Resource Allocation for Massive MIMO with Virtual Antennas

Today’s Massive MIMO cellular operation is dominated by orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation. One of the advantages of OFDM is the flexibility to carve up the available spectrum into resource blocks (RBs) that can operate adjacent to one another. Massive MIMO adds spatial multiplexing layers on top of the RBs, enabling the simultaneous operation of dozens of UEs. Cyclic prefixed single carrier modulation (CP-SCM) is an alternative to OFDM that also benefits from massive MIMO and is useful as an OFDM alternative in specific scenarios. However, until recently, no resource allocation method has been proposed for CP-SCM. In this paper, we present a CP-SCM resource allocation scheme using virtual antennas in a massive MIMO time domain duplexed scenario. By creating several virtual antennas for each physical antenna, the benefits of massive MIMO are achieved with a smaller physical antenna count. Resources are quantized into data streams, and each user can be assigned a variable number of simultaneous streams. This paper presents a detailed development and analysis of multi-stream processing (MSP) for both uplink detection and downlink precoding. We also introduce heterogeneous MSP, where CP-SCM and OFDM signals can be processed in the same MSP framework.

5G and beyond communications↗
NASA NTRS1983

The NASA data systems standardization program - Radio frequency and modulation

The modifications being considered by the NASA-ESA Working Group (NEWG) for space-data-systems standardization to maximize the commonality of the NASA and ESA RF and modulation systems linking spaceborne scientific experiments with ground stations are summarized. The first phase of the NEWG project shows that the NASA MK-IVA Deep Space Network and Shuttle Interrogator (SI) systems in place or planned for 1985 are generally compatible with the ESA Network, but that communications involving the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) are incompatible due to its use of spread-spectrum modulation, pseudonoise ranging, multiple-access channels, and Mbit/s data rates. Topics under study for the post-1985 period include low-bit-rate capability for the ESA Network, an optional 8-kHz command subcarrier for the SI, fixing the spacecraft-transponder frequency-multiplication ratios for possible X-band uplinks or X-band nondeep-space downlinks, review of incompatible TDRS features, and development of the 32-GHz band.

Martin, W. L.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Efficient Precoding for Single Carrier Modulation in Multi-User Massive MIMO Networks

Abstract—Frequency domain (FD) multi-user detection (MUD) and precoding has been shown to be an effective means of approaching the theoretical per-user capacity for single carrier modulation (SCM) schemes in massive MIMO scenarios with highly dispersive channels. When a cyclic prefix is added to the SCM waveform, the circulant structures of the resulting convolutional channel matrix allows for relatively simple expressions for the FD detection and precoding. In this paper, we further refine the computationally efficient minimum mean squared error (MMSE) FD-MUD technique in a time-division duplexing (TDD) massive MIMO setup by pre-computing the scale factor needed to produce an unbiased estimate. The resulting scale factor and the matrix inverse that was calculated for the uplink is then reused for the downlink to form a computationally efficient precoding scheme with superior performance compared to zero-forcing (ZF) precoding. Performance analysis is provided and confirmed through simulation results.

5G and Beyond Communications↗
NASA NTRS1975

Design study of a HEAO-C spread spectrum transponder telemetry system for use with the TDRSS subnet

The results of a design study of a spread spectrum transponder for use on the HEAO-C satellite were given. The transponder performs the functions of code turn-around for ground range and range-rate determination, ground command receiver, and telemetry data transmitter. The spacecraft transponder and associated communication system components will allow the HEAO-C satellite to utilize the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) subnet of the post 1978 STDN. The following areas were discussed in the report: TDRSS Subnet Description, TDRSS-HEAO-C System Configuration, Gold Code Generator, Convolutional Encoder Design and Decoder Algorithm, High Speed Sequence Generators, Statistical Evaluation of Candidate Code Sequences using Amplitude and Phase Moments, Code and Carrier Phase Lock Loops, Total Spread Spectrum Transponder System, and Reference Literature Search.

Weathers, G.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Low-cost TDRSS communications for NASA's long duration balloon project

A new transponder and RF ground support equipment for the NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) intended to support long duration scientific balloon flights in Antarctica are described. The new balloon class transponder features a highly integrated spread spectrum receiver design based on programmable charge coupled device (CCD) correlators and digital signal processing chips. The correlator chip is a Lincoln Labs 4ABC with four CCD channels. The balloon transponder is capable of reporting an estimate of its input bit error rate using digital signal processing. The TDRSS user RF test set is based on a set of RF ground support equipment capable of providing both the RF communications and direct control and monitoring necessary for transponder testing and a two-way RF link for preflight testing.

Israel, David J.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Center for Space Telemetering and Telecommunications Systems, New Mexico State University

This viewgraph presentation gives an overview of the Center for Space Telemetering and Telecommunications Systems activities at New Mexico State University. Presentations cover the following topics: (1) small satellite communications, including nanosatellite radio and virtual satellite development; (2) modulation and detection studies, including details on smooth phase interpolated keying (SPIK) spectra and highlights of an adaptive turbo multiuser detector; (3) decoupled approaches to nonlinear ISI compensation; (4) space internet testing; (4) optical communication; (5) Linux-based receiver for lightweight optical communications without a laser in space, including software design, performance analysis, and the receiver algorithm; (6) carrier tracking hardware; and (7) subband transforms for adaptive direct sequence spread spectrum receivers.

Horan, Stephen↗
NASA NTRS1982

Propagation of wide bandwidth signals through strongly turbulent ionized media

Analytic and numerical techniques are presented which directly address the problem of propagation of wide bandwidth signals through random ionized media. This work is applicable to the problems of satellite communication and space based radar observation through a disturbed ionospheric propagation channel that would result from a high altitude chemical release or nuclear detonation. An analytic solution is presented for the two-position, two-frequency mutual coherence function for spherical wave propagation in the strong scattering limit. This solution is used to derive simple expressions for the power impulse response function and to determine its relationship to the important parameters of decorrelation distance and coherence bandwidth which describe the disturbed propagation channel. Results for mean time delay and time delay jitter are presented and compared to direct simulation results and to other theoretical calculations. A numerical/analytical solution to the parabolic wave equation is presented in the form of a multiple phase-screen (MPS) propagation simulation. In this very general solution technique, the random medium is divided into a finite number of layers. The field fluctuation through each layer is obtained by replacing the layer by a centrally located thin phase-screen, whose statistical properties are determined from the statistics of the electron-density irregularities. The waveform then propagates from phase-screen to phase-screen via an exact solution to the Fresnel-Kirchnoff equation. For wide bandwidth waveforms, numerical solutions are obtained at a number of discrete frequencies centered about the carrier and then time-domain solutions are obtained by Fourier transform techniques. Detailed results are presented for a number of interesting cases including propagation of a 20 MHz bandwidth signal through a finite barium cloud at a carrier frequency of 100 MHz. One of the major uses of the MPS propagation simulation has been to provide realizations of the received signal after propagation through a disturbed channel. The MPS simulation obtains a general solution of the parabolic wave equation under both weak and strong scattering conditions. A second technique to directly obtain realizations of wide bandwidth waveforms is presented here. This technique is limited to the case of strong scattering but requires only a fraction of the computer resources needed for MPS signal generation. Detailed comparisons of the two signal generation techniques are presented.

Random Media↗
NASA NTRS1987

VSAT networks - An overview

This paper examines the technology and constraints of very small aperture terminals (VSAT) networks, a special type of wide-area thin-route satellite network that represents a recent innovation in the field of satellite communications. VSAT network architectures suitable for both data and voice communications are studied in this paper. Several issues concerning the frequency of operations, that is, C-band versus Ku-band are examined, and trade-offs between nonspread spectrum and spread spectrum techniques, as well as modulation and multiple access schemes, are considered in detail. Link design examples are given to illustrate the performance of various types of VSAT networks.

Maggenti, Mark↗
NASA NTRS1988

Technical characteristics of the OmniTRACS: The first operation mobile Ku-band satellite communications system

The techinical characteristics of the OmniTRACS system are described. The system is the first operational mobile Ku-band satellite communications system and provides two-way message and position determination service to mobile terminals using existing Ku-band satellites. Interference to and from the system is minimized by the use of special spread-spectrum techniques, together with low power and low data rate transmissions.

Antonio, Franklin P.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Shuttle station, and satellite communications program

A parametric approach is developed to analyze and evaluate the performance of any link or links of a satellite relay system. The approach factors into the calculations the constraints of coherent radio frequency interference, multipath, and equipment design. The report is divided into three sections dealing with Spread Spectrum Techniques (Section 1), Power Budget Calculations (Section 2), and Required Capabilities and Design Factors for Tracking and Data Relay Systems TDRS (Section 3).

Lawsine, L.↗
NASA NTRS1990

A performance analysis of DS-CDMA and SCPC VSAT networks

Spread-spectrum and single-channel-per-carrier (SCPC) transmission techniques work well in very small aperture terminal (VSAT) networks for multiple-access purposes while allowing the earth station antennas to remain small. Direct-sequence code-division multiple-access (DS-CDMA) is the simplest spread-spectrum technique to use in a VSAT network since a frequency synthesizer is not required for each terminal. An examination is made of the DS-CDMA and SCPC Ku-band VSAT satellite systems for low-density (64-kb/s or less) communications. A method for improving the standardf link analysis of DS-CDMA satellite-switched networks by including certain losses is developed. The performance of 50-channel full mesh and star network architectures is analyzed. The selection of operating conditions producing optimum performance is demonstrated.

Hayes, David P.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Encryption of Signal Pulses to Replace Tamper-indicating Conduit

In order to verify signal integrity and point of origin for TTL pulse data used in IAEA systems, and to avoid the need for expensive tamper-indicating conduit or electronic techniques, we propose the development of a signal pulse signing and encryption in-line device. In measurement applications in which the data acquisition electronics is separate from the enclosed, sealed detector, tamper-indicating techniques are required to protect raw TTL pulse streams between the detector and the data acquisition module, i.e UMSR. The goal of this proposed project is to design a rad-tolerant transmitter that would mount inside the sealed detector system and a receiver in the sealed electronics cabinet with the data acquisition instrument. This transmitter/receiver pair would digitally sign and encrypt the pulse stream data at the detector then transmit the data to the sealed cabinet where the receiver would decrypt the data and reproduce the original pulse stream. Existing tamper indicating techniques, such as LiveWire’s spread spectrum time domain reflectometry rely on detecting physical changes to the wiring system and can be blind to fast coupling of micro-second wide pulses. Digital signing and encryption techniques such as the Sandia Laboratories Enhanced Data Authentication System (EDAS) are capable of encrypting communications data, i.e. RS-232, but are not capable reproducing a critical time correlated data streams. Recent NA-241 Safeguards Technology supported developments have reduced the need for special conduit to transmit data via Ethernet by incorporating the IAEA RAINSTORM data encryption and authentication protocol, a tamper indicator is still required to protect raw pulse data from detectors to the acquisition electronics. Encrypting pulse data is especially complicated for radiation detection instruments due to the time correlation data analysis that is performed on this data stream. Any corruption in the timing information will produce errors in measurement values.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
NASA NTRS1990

Future mobile satellite communication concepts at 20/30 GHz

The outline of a design of a system using ultra small earth stations (picoterminals) for data traffic at 20/30 GHz is discussed. The picoterminals would be battery powered, have an RF transmitter power of 0.5 W, use a 10 cm square patch antenna, and have a receiver G/T of about -8 dB/K. Spread spectrum modulation would be required (due to interference consideration) to allow a telex type data link (less than 200 bit/s data rate) from the picoterminal to the hub station of the network and about 40 kbit/s on the outbound patch. An Olympus type transponder at 20/30 GHz could maintain several thousand simultaneous picoterminal circuits. The possibility of demonstrating a picoterminal network with voice traffic using Olympus is discussed together with fully mobile systems based on this concept.

Barton, S. K.↗
NASA NTRS1993

ACTS advanced system concepts and experimentation

Over the course of the first two years of experimentation with the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS), many different K/Ka-band applications-oriented experiments will be conducted and evaluated for their commercial viability. In addition, the technological developments and advanced systems concepts associated with the various terminals and the satellite itself will also be examined. Beyond these existing experiments and the current terminal developments, many other new and exciting experiment ideas and advanced system concepts exist. With the additional use of ACTS for the last two years of its lifetime, many of these ideas could be explored. In the mobile satellite communications arena, a particular applications-oriented concept that has yet to be developed is a maritime-mobile experiment. Applications of K/Ka-band mobile satcom technologies to the pleasure cruise industry could provide similar communications services as those that are being developed for the broadband aeronautical experiments. A second applications-oriented experiment that could be of interest is the development of a hybrid satellite-cellular system experiment. In such an experimental system, a mobile K/Ka-band satellite service would extend the coverage of the already existing cellular network. Many new system concepts and terminal developments could also be accomplished. The initial characterization of the K/Ka-band mobile satellite communications propagation channel and evaluation of the currently existing rain compensation algorithms (RCA's) could lead to a second generation RCA development that would improve the overall ACTS Mobile Terminal (AMT) performance. In addition, the development of an enhanced modem to be used with the AMT that utilizes CDMA spread spectrum would also improve the overall terminal efficiency and provide a greater commercial potential for K/Ka-band applications. Other techniques worthy of further exploration and evaluation include the development of new Doppler estimation algorithms and demodulation techniques such as pseudo-coherent demodulation. The possibility of exploring these new and exciting experiment and conceptual ideas, as well as many others, with an extended ACTS satellite lifetime, are examined.

Abbe, Brian S.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Prototype Parts of a Digital Beam-Forming Wide-Band Receiver

Some prototype parts of a digital beamforming (DBF) receiver that would operate at multigigahertz carrier frequencies have been developed. The beam-forming algorithm in a DBF receiver processes signals from multiple antenna elements with appropriate time delays and weighting factors chosen to enhance the reception of signals from a specific direction while suppressing signals from other directions. Such a receiver would be used in the directional reception of weak wideband signals -- for example, spread-spectrum signals from a low-power transmitter on an Earth-orbiting spacecraft or other distant source. The prototype parts include superconducting components on integrated-circuit chips, and a multichip module (MCM), within which the chips are to be packaged and connected via special inter-chip-communication circuits. The design and the underlying principle of operation are based on the use of the rapid single-flux quantum (RSFQ) family of logic circuits to obtain the required processing speed and signal-to-noise ratio. RSFQ circuits are superconducting circuits that exploit the Josephson effect. They are well suited for this application, having been proven to perform well in some circuits at frequencies above 100 GHz. In order to maintain the superconductivity needed for proper functioning of the RSFQ circuits, the MCM must be kept in a cryogenic environment during operation.

Kaplan, Steven B.↗