Blind Detection of Satellite Communication Signals
Based on Cyclic Spectrum
Qingyuan Wang, Zhidong Xie, Jing Hu, Gengxin Zhang
College of Communications Engineering
PLA University of Science and Technology
Nanjing 210007, China
wangqingyuan09@yeah.net
Abstract—In this paper, the fundamental characteristics of
cyclostationary signal are investigated. Firstly, through analyzing
the cyclostationarity of some typical satellite communication
signals (e.g. MPSK, MSK and QAM signals), the guidelines to
blindly detect satellite communication signals are obtained. Then
the simulation of the above signals’ cyclic spectrum is performed
based on engineering calculation formula of spectral correlation
function. Furthermore, under the condition of low SNR, the
signals detection is realized by searching the spectral peak on the
section of cycle frequency. Last but not least, the performance of
the algorithm is analyzed, and the simulation results prove the
validity of the method.
Keywords—signal detection; cyclic spectrum; satellite
communication; frequency-domain smoothing
I. INTRODUCTION
Satellite communication is an important part of modern
communication, and it plays a very important role in both
civilian and military fields. In recent years, with the
development of communication technology, some new
problems have aroused many attentions in satellite signal
interception and analysis. Due to the limitations of receiving
technology, the restriction of geographical location and the
variation of channel environment, satellite signal detection
faces great difficulties in non-cooperative reception [1]. The
detection of communication signals is the precondition for
modulation recognition and demodulation, only when the target
signals were detected can we process signals subsequently.
In non-cooperative communication systems, because prior
information is unknown, in order to determine whether there
was a signal and its starting and ending point, it is inevitable to
blindly detect signals before processing. Non-cooperative
satellite communication is to intercept and process the non-
cooperative satellite communication link signals, whereas its
prerequisite lies in successful signal detection, which provides
necessary conditions for the subsequent signal processing.
Therefore, it is of great significance to investigate the blind
detection of satellite communication signals.
The most widely used method of signal detection was
proposed by Urknowitz in [2] in 1967, which was based on
energy detection in the time domain. Recently, the time-
domain detection [2][3], the high-order cumulants detection[4],
and the power spectrum detection [5] are commonly used for
signal detection, however the performance of these methods
978-1-4673-7687-7/15/$31.00 ©2015 IEEE
are poor under the condition of low signal-to-noise (SNR). The
study of cyclic spectrum theory originated in 1950s, and the
theory had been applied to signal processing by Gardner since
1967 [6]-[8]. Compared with the conventional power spectrum,
the cyclic spectrum has the characteristics of high resolution,
strong anti-interference ability, and rich analysis domain, so the
cyclic spectrum can be applied to signal detection in low SNR
[9]. At present, the literature about applying the cyclic
spectrum theory in satellite communication signal detection is
rare, and in this paper we study the satellite communication
signal detection in low SNR base on the cyclic spectrum theory.
In the following of this paper, we will start with a brief
review of the basic concepts and definitions associated with
cyclostationary processes in section II. The guidelines to
blindly detect satellite communication signals are obtained by
analyzing the cyclostationarity of some typical satellite
communication signals in section III. The simulation of the
common satellite communication signals’ cyclic spectrum is
performed, and the detection performance of the above signals
in low SNR is obtained and analyzed in section IV. Finally
conclusions are given in section V.
II. CYCLIC SPECTRUM THEORY
Definitely, a second-order stochastic process, which is
continuous in time domain, in a broad sense, is said to be
cyclostationary if and only if its mean value and
autocorrelation function are periodic (the period is denoted as
T0 ). Specifically, the mean value and autocorrelation function
of the process is given by
（1）
mx (t + T0 ) = mx (t ) ,
Rx (t + T0 , µ + T0 ) = Rx (t , µ ) , （2）
while µ = t − τ , the time-varying autocorrelation function of
x(t ) is written as
（3）
Rx (t ,τ ) = E { x(t ) x* (t − τ )}
Since R (t ,τ ) is a periodic function with period T ， it
x 0
admits a Fourier series representation,
）
∞ ∞
Rx (t ,τ ) = ∑ Rα (τ )e
x
j 2π mt / T0
= ∑ Rα (τ )e
x
j 2πα t
, (4
m =−∞ m =−∞
where α = m / T0 , and the Fourier coefficients Rxα (τ ) (cyclic of their constant envelope. With the development of satellite
autocorrelation function) are given by communication technology, the modulation systems and
parameters of satellite communication are more complex and
Rxα (τ ) =
1
T0 ∫
T0 / 2

− T0 / 2
Rx (t ,τ )e − j 2πα t dt （5） more diversified. MSK, 16QAM and other modulation
methods are gradually applied. Compared with PSK, APSK
has become a modulation type with good prospect because of
The Fourier transform of the cyclic autocorrelation is its high spectral efficiency and low power requirement under
the same number system and error rate. In the system of DVB-
∞
S xα ( f ) = ∫ Rxα (τ )e − j 2π f τ dτ ,
−∞
（6） S2 (Digital Video Broadcasting-Satellite 2) [10], 16APSK and
32APSK are applied. 6PSK and π/4CQPSK are applied to the
which is called as the cyclic spectrum, where α is the cycle system of GMR-1 (GEO-Mobile Radio-1) [11]. In this paper,
frequency, and f is the common frequency. we study the satellite communication signal detection in low
SNR through the representative signals such as MPSK, MSK
To find out the meaning of the cyclic spectrum, the Rxα (τ ) and QAM signals.
in (6) can be replaced by:
A. Cyclic Spectrum Analysis of Common Satellite
Rxα (τ ) = lim
T →∞
1 T /2

T ∫−T / 2
x(t + τ / 2) x* (t − τ / 2)e − j 2πα t dt （7） Communication Signals
1) Cyclic spectrum analysis of MPSK signals
Substituting (7) into (6), we can get The model of MPSK signals can be expressed as
∞
Sxα ( f ) = ∫ lim
1 T /2
（8） {
x(t ) = Re xl (t )e j (2π f0t +ϕ0 ) , } （11）
T ∫−T /2
x(t +τ / 2)x* (t −τ / 2)e− j 2παt dte− j 2π f τ dτ

（12）
−∞ T →∞ ,
∞

∑ q ( t − nTc ) e jθ k ,
α
= lim SxT (t, f ) xl (t ) =
T →∞
n = −∞

α 1 where xl (t ) is the complex envelope of x(t ) , f 0 is the carrier

where S xT (t , f ) = X T (t , f + α / 2) X T* (t , f − α / 2) , and
T frequency, ϕ0 is the initial phase, q (t ) is the shaped impulse,
t +T / 2
X T (t , f ) = ∫ x(u )e − j 2π fu du . It is observed that S xα ( f ) Tc is the width of code element, and θ k is the modulation phase
t −T / 2
means the instantaneous correlation of the spectral component information ( θk ∈{2π(k −1)/ M} ,k =1,2,⋯, M ).
of x(t ) at f ± α / 2 .
The general form of MPSK signals’ cyclic spectrum [8] is
The discretization is usually used in engineering realization, given by:
and the average time could not be infinite. We can use the When M=2, the general form of BPSK signals’ cyclic
method of time-domain smoothing or frequency-domain spectrum can be expressed as
smoothing to compute the cyclic spectrum. The method of

（13）
frequency-domain smoothing is used in this paper. The period  1 Q [ f − f 0 + α / 2 ] Q * [ f − f 0 − α / 2 ] + 
   , α = n / Tc
of time is truncated (the window length is ∆t ), and then  4Tc Q [ f + f 0 + α / 2 ] Q* [ f + f 0 − α / 2] 

sample in time-domain (the sampling period is Ts ), we can get  1 *
S xα ( f ) =  4T Q ( f − f 0 + α / 2 ) Q ( f + f 0 − α / 2 ) , α = 2 f 0 + n / Tc
c


Sxα ( f )∆f =
1 (M−1)/2 1
∑ X∆t (t, f +α/2+nFs)X∆*t (t, f −α/2+nFs) , (9
M n=−(M−1)/2 ∆t
） 
 1 Q f + f + α / 2 ) Q * ( f − f − α / 2 ) , α = −2 f + n / T
 4Tc (
0, others
0 0 0 c

When M ≥ 4 , cyclic spectrum of MPSK signals can be

N −1
X ∆t (t , f ) = ∑ W∆t ( kTs ) X (t − kTs )e − j 2π f ( t − kTs )
, (10 ） expressed as
k =0

where W∆t (kTs ) is the data window function, ∆f = MFs is the α

width of frequency-domain smoothing, Fs = 1 / ( N − 1)Ts is the
frequency increment, N = ∆t / Ts is the width of the sample,
and Ts is the sampling period.
III. SIGNAL DETECTION METHOD
Compared with the ground communication system, the
resource-constrained problem of satellite communication
system is more serious, especially the power resources are
usually severely limited. Therefore the modulation types of
phase shift keying (e.g. BPSK QPSK OQPSK
π/4DQPSK) are often used in satellite communication because
、 、
 1 Q[ f − f0 +α / 2] Q* [ f − f0 −α / 2] +
   ,α = n / Tc ,
Sx ( f )=4Tc Q[ f + f0 +α / 2] Q* [ f + f0 −α / 2] 
(14 ）

0, others
where Q( f ) = sin(π fTc ) / (π f ) . From (13) and (14), we can find
that the cyclic spectrum of all MPSK signals has higher
nonzero amplitude when α = n / Tc , but at other cycle
frequencies, the amplitude is 0 or close to 0.
2) Cyclic spectrum analysis of MSK signals
MSK signals is the 2FSK signals whose the modulation
indexes are 0.5. The model of MSK signals can be expressed as
、 x(t ) = c(t )cos(2π f0t + ϕ0 ) − s(t )sin(2π f0t + ϕ0 ) , （15）
where f 0 is the carrier frequency, ϕ0 is the initial phase, where Vmα ( f ) is the cyclic spectrum function of vm . From (22),
c(t ) is the inphase component, and the s (t ) is the quadrature we can find that the cyclic spectrum of QAM signals has
component: higher nonzero amplitude when α = n / (Tc ) and α = ±2 f 0 + n / Tc .

c (t ) =
∞

∑ c q(t − 2nT )
n c
（16） B. The Guidelines of Signal Detection
n = −∞
Supposing the received signal under the background of
s (t ) =
∞

∑ s q(t − (2n + 1)T ) （17） additive Gauss noise is expressed by:

（23）
n c
n =−∞
s (t ) = x(t ) + n(t ) ,
Both {cn } and {sn } are independent and identically distributed,
where x(t ) is the signal, n(t ) is the noise, and they are
as well as unmodulated binary symbol arrays. Tc is the width mutually statistical independent. The spectral peaks of the
of code element, and q ( t ) can be expressed as noises’ cyclic spectrum appears only when α = 0 because that
the noises are not cyclostationary. But for all MPSK signals,
cos(π t / 2Tc ), t ≤ Tc
q (t ) =  （18） the spectral peaks of the cyclic spectrum S xα ( f ) appear when
0, others α = n / Tc ( α are the integral multiples of the symbol rate).
The cyclic spectrum of MPSK signals [8] is given by: For all MSK signals, the spectral peaks of the cyclic spectrum
S xα ( f ) appear when α = n / (2Tc ) (n is even) and
 R∼ ( f )
 c [Q( f + α + f0 )Q* ( f − α + f0 ) α = ±2 f 0 + n / (2Tc ) (n is odd). For all QAM signals, the
（19）
 2Tc 2 2
 spectral peaks of the cyclic spectrum S xα ( f ) appear when
α α
+Q( f + − f )Q ( f − − f )], α = n / (2T )(nis even)
* ,
 2
0
2
0 c
α = n / (Tc ) and α = ±2 f 0 + n / Tc . Therefore we can compute
 ∼
 − R ( f ) α α and observe the cyclic spectrum of s (t ) to detect MPSK, MSK,
Sxα ( f ) =  c [Q( f + + f0 )Q* ( f − + f0 )e− j[2π (α +2 f0 )+2ϕ0 ]
 2Tc 2 2
and QAM signals. We can carry out the decision through the
 α * α − j[2π (α −2 f0 ) −2ϕ0 ]
+Q( f + − f0 )Q ( f − − f0 )e ],α = ±2 f0 + n / (2Tc )(nis odd) formula (24):
 2 2
0, others
  S xα ( f ) , α ≠ 0, There is a signal.

（24）
  f =± f0

 S0( f ) + S0( f ) , α = 0, There is a signal.

 x n
where Q( f ) is the Fourier transform of q (t ) : S sα ( f ) = f =± f0
f =± f0
0, α ≠ 0, There is not a signal.
1
Q ( f ) = [Q0 ( f +
2
1
4Tc
) + Q0 ( f −
1 ,
4Tc
)] （20）  0
 Sn ( f ) f =± f0 , α = 0, There is not a signal.

From the formula (24), we can find that the cyclic spectrum
and Q0 ( f ) = (sin π fTc ) / (π f ) . From (19), we can find that the
detection has strong signal selectivity and resolving ability. The
cyclic spectrum of MSK signals has higher nonzero amplitude amplitude of the cyclic spectrum can be used as a statistic, and
when α = n / (2Tc ) (n is even) and α = ±2 f 0 + n / (2Tc ) (n is we can complete the detection of the above signals through
odd). searching the spectral peak on the α section of cyclic
spectrum at f = 0 and determining its position.
3) Cyclic spectrum analysis of QAM signals
QAM signals can be expressed as: The formula (24) is just a simplified form. In the actual
signal processing, because of the limited data acquisition, the
x(t ) = [∑ vm q(t − mTc )]e j 2π f0 t , （21） cyclic spectrum leakage, and the cross term between the noise
m and the signal, the amplitude of the cyclic spectrum is not zero
at nonzero cycle frequency. But after reaching a certain data
where vm is the QAM baseband signal, and the other
length, the above items can be neglected. Because the cyclic
parameters are the same as the above parameters. The cyclic spectrum density of the stationary noises concentrates on the
spectrum of QAM signals [8] is given by: zero cycle frequency, and the cyclic spectrum is affected
seriously by the noise at zero cycle frequency, so we get rid of
 α * α α
[Q( f + f0 + 2 )Q ( f + f0 − 2 )Vm ( f + f0 ) + the zero cycle frequency in the detection. At the same time, the
 positive and the negative axis of the cyclic spectrum density
Q( f − f − α )Q* ( f − f + α )V α ( f − f )* ],α = n / (T )

1 


0
2
α *
0
2
m

α α −2 f *
0 c
, （22） contains the same information, so we can only select the
positive cycle frequency axis to reduce half of the computation
Sxα ( f ) = [Q( f − f0 + )Q ( f + f0 − )Vm 0 ( f ) + and storage.
2Tc  2 2
 α * α α +2 f0
Q( f − f0 − 2 )Q ( f + f0 + 2 )Vm ( f )],α = ±2 f0 + n / Tc IV. SIMULATION AND ANALYSIS

0, others In this section, the simulation of the common satellite

communication signals’ cyclic spectrum is performed, and the
signals detection is realized by searching the spectral peak on
the section of cycle frequency. The detection performance of
the above signals in low SNR is obtained and analyzed.

A. Cyclic Spectrum of Common Satellite Communication

Signals
Fig.1 shows the f − α 3D figures of BPSK, QPSK, MSK,
and 16QAM signals’ cyclic spectrum density by using
engineering calculation formula (9), and fig.2 shows the plane
figures of S xα (0) . The simulation results confirm the (d) 16QAM
conclusion of formula (13), (14), (19), and (22). Simulation
Fig.1 cyclic spectrum of common satellite communication signals S xα ( f )
parameters: symbol rate f c =500kHz, carrier frequency
f 0 =2000kHz, sampling frequency f s =8000kHz, the length of
（frequency k = f / F ，cycle frequency m = α / 2F ）
s s

data N=4096, signal to noise ratio E / N 0 =15dB (E: average

power of the signal, N 0 : power spectral of AWGN), and
engineering calculating parameters of the cyclic spectrum:
M=64, and Fs = f s / N .

(a) BPSK

(a) BPSK

(b) QPSK

(b) QPSK

(c) MSK

(c) MSK

(d) 16QAM

Fig.2 cyclic spectrum of common satellite communication signals at f =0,

S xα (0) （cycle frequency m = α / 2F ）
s
B. Blindly Signal Detection V. CONCLUSION
Due to the cyclic spectrum analysis and the detection
、 、 、
The cyclostationary theory mainly uses the statistical
theory analysis, The simulation of BPSK QPSK MSK parameters of the signals, such as the mean and correlation
16QAM signals’ detection performance is performed, and the function, and it is widely used in signal detection algorithm.
simulation parameters are the same as that in Fig.1. Fig.3 This paper studies the satellite communication signal detection
shows the performance of BPSK, QPSK, MSK, and 16QAM blindly in low SNR based on cyclic spectrum theory. The
cyclic speectrum of the common satellite communication
、 、 、
signals, and the symbol numbers of these signals are the same.
From Fig.3, we can find the performance of BPSK signals is signals (e.g. BPSK QPSK MSK 16QAM signals) is
almost the same as MSK signals, and the performance of analyzed. The cyclic spctrum detection is realized through
QPSK signals is similar to 16QAM signals. The performance using frequency-domain smoothing, and the simulation is
of QPSK and 16QAM is obviously worse than the performance performed. The simulation results show that the cyclic
of BPSK and MSK. On the whole, the detection accuracy is spectrum detection has good performance for the signals in this
gradually improving with the increase of SNR, the detection paper. The detection accuracies of all the above signals reach
performance is getting worse with the complexity of the
modulation type, and the detection performance will get worse
％
90 under the condition of -7dB. The next research emphasis
is to explore the fast and efficient algorithm to improve the

％
when the number system of the modulation increases. The computational efficiency of cyclic spectrum function.
detection accuracies of BPSK and MSK signals reach 95
when SNR is more than -11dB, and the accuracies of all the
above signals reach 90 ％
when SNR is more than -7dB. It
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This work is supported by National Natural Science
shows that the cyclic spectrum detection has good performance
for the signals in this paper. Foundation of China (91338201, 91438109 and 61401507),
National High Technology Research and Development
Fig.4 shows the detection performance of BPSK signals Program of China (“863” Program) (2012AA01A510).
with different symbol length, and the symbol numbers
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