A Study on Channel Estimation Methods for

MC-CDMA Systems
Atsushi Nagate, Hiroyoshi Masui, and Temya Fujii
Information Communication Lab., R&D, Product & Services Supplier Unit, Japan Telecom Co., Ltd
E-mail: atsushi.nagate@japan-telecom.co.jp

maximum Doppler frequency and delay spread. Therefore,

Abstract- In this paper, we propose a novel channel estimation
method for time-domain spreading multi-carrier code division
multiple access (MC-CDMA) systems. In time-domain spreading
MC-CDMA systems, code-multiplexed pilot symbols are
transmitted consecutively in both time and frequency domains. I n
our proposed method, weighted pilot symbols in both domains are
coherently added to improve signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of pilot
symbols in channel estimation. However, the channel estimation
quality degrades when the weights ofpilot symbols are not selected
appropriately according to the changes of propagation
environments. We propose a method which the optimum
weighting factors for pilot symbols are adaptively selected
according to the changes of propagation environments, by
measuring maximum Doppler frequency for the time domain and
delay spread for the frequency domain at MS (Mobile Station).
We evaluate our proposed method by computer simulation, and
clarify improvement of channel estimation accuracy.
Index Terms-MC-CDMA, channel estimation, weight
I. INTRODUCTION
M ULTI-CARRIERcode division multiple
(MC-CDMA), based on a combination of CDMA and
orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), is a
access
major candidate of transmission technology for new generation
mobile communication systems. In MC-CDMA systems, data
symbols can be spread in frequency or time domain by using a
given spreading code [ 1-61, In time-domain spreading
MC-CDMA system, data and pilot symbols are spread in the
time domain and code-multiplexed [5,6]. Therefore, we can
perform accurate channel estimation even in fast fading
channels by utilizing successive pilot symbols in both time and
frequency domains.
In DS-CDMA systems, it is general that some pilot symbols
in the time domain are added coherently to improve
signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of pilot symbols in channel
estimation. In time-domain spreading MC-CDMA systems,
code-multiplexed pilot symbols are transmitted consecutively
in both time and frequency domains. Therefore, we can expeci
an improvement of SNR by adding pilot symbols of both
domains coherently.
However, the correlation among pilot symbols in both
domains varies according to propagation environments such as
channel estimation quality degrades inversely, when pilot
symbols for the coherent addition are not selected
appropriately.
In this paper, we propose a novel channel estimation method
for time-domain spreading MC-CDMA systems which
adaptively change the weights for pilot symbols used for the
coherent addition according to propagation environments, by
measuring changes in the time domain (maximum Doppler
frequency) and the frequcncy domain (delay spread) at Mobile
Station (MS).
11. TIME-DOMAIN SPREADING MC-CDMA SYSTEMS
The frame format of time-domain spreading MC-CDMA
systems is shown in Figure 1. On each sub-carrier, data and
pilot symbols are spread in the time domain, and
code-multiplexed. A guard interval, which is a copy of the tail
part of the following OFDM symbol, is inserted between
OFDM symbols to avoid inter symbol interference (ISI) caused
by multipath fading. The transmitter structure is shown in
Figure 2. The complex equivalent low-pass transmitted signal
of mth sample in xth chip’s OFDM symbol is written as
iN-1 N,-I
%,,” = d,,< . wc,x
’e x P ( m (1)
i = o ==n
where N, is the number of sub-carriers, N, is the number of
multiplexed codes, d,., is the data symbol of sub-camer k for cth
user, Wc,xis the xth chip of the spreading code for cth user. Here,
the spreading code for 0th user is used for pilot symbols.
The receiver structure is shown in Figure 3. Here, the
compensation of each received data symbol is conducted after
the received data symbol is despread. For the compensation, the
channel estimate is obtained by coherent addition of despread
pilot symbols.
111. CONVENTIONAL CHANNEL ESTiMATlON METHODS
In OFDM and frequency-domain spreading MC-CDMA
systems, pilot symbols are time-multiplexed on all sub-carriers.
Here, channel estimation is conducted by coherent addition of
pilot symbols on appropriate sub-caniers [7].This means the
 d
S
c_c I
Prore$$ingGain OFDM symbol
Fig. I Frame format
‘1
P
E
Fig. 2 Transmitter structure
selection of pilot symbols is very important for accurate channel
estimation.
In OFDM systems, fading characteristics among snb-caniers
and among consecutive time-domain symbols are highly
correlated. Therefore, in the systems, pilot symbols on adjacent
sub-camers and adjacent time slots can be coherently added for
channel estimation. On the other hand, in MC-CDMA systems,
the correlation of fading characteristics among pilot symbols
becomes lower in proportion to the length of the spreading code
Pc. Therefore, when we select the fixed number of pilot
symbols, the accuracy of channel estimation may degrade in
case the correlation among pilot symbols is low. Considering
this degradation, the number of pilot symbols for channel
estimation has been strictly limited for the worst propagation
environment. However, in this case, accuracy of channel
estimation degrades by the limit in static environments.
1v. PROPOSED CHANNEL ESTIMATION METHOD
We propose a channel estimation method that keeps accuracy
in different propagation environments for time-domain
spreading MC-CDMA systems. In this method, pilot symbols in
both frequency and time domains are selected for coherent
addition. Here, pilot symbols in the fixed area, which mean the
fixed number of pilot symbols, are used. To keep accuracy of
channel estimation, different weight is given to each pilot
symbol in the area according to propagation environments. This
method is equivalent to changing the number of pilot symbols
adaptively. And, its process is easier because pilot symbols used
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Fig. 3 Receiver structure
I-
frequency
v
2Ni+I
Fig. 4 Weighted pilot symbols for coherent addition
for coherent addition are fixed.
As for the area of pilot symbols, we investigate two types of
channel estimation methods. One is “stored method” which
selects pilot symbols that have already been received and will
be received as shown in Figure 4. Here, each small block means
a despread pilot symbol. Each variable in the blocks means the
weight of the pilot symbol. The central block surrounded with a
thick line (hereafter target symbol) is where the channel
estimate is applied to compensate data symbols. In this method,
we need to memorize the received data symbols until all pilot
symbols for the channel estimation are received. Then, we also
propose “real-time method which selects only pilot symbols
that have been received. In this method, the memory for
received data symbols is not necessary, and we can demodulate
data symbols in real time. In the stored method, accuracy of the
channel estimation is better than that of the real-time method,
because it can use more pilot symbols that have high
correlation.
A. Stored Method
When we use N , and N,pilot symbols in one side of each time
and frequency domain, (2N,+l)(ZNfiI) pilot symbols are used
for the channel estimation. Considering the facts that the
correlation becomes lower in proportion to the distance
between symbols, weights are given according to the distance.
Here, we denote 1,and 1, as the weight factor (hereafter
 5 path
t,- A

time

/path Separation A r 1
Fig 5 Path model

forgetting factor) in each time and frequency domain as shown

in Figure 4. The channel estimate of t,th symbol on 5 t h
sub-camer is written as

L
Y
m
where r,,, is the complex symbol of tth received pilot symbol on
/th sub-camer, andp is the complex symbol of the transmitted
pilot symbol.

B. R e d t i m e Method o,ol I~ ~ .. .......i . ~ i ......... ~ ~ . . ~

-10 0 IO 20
In the real-time method, only pilot symbols that have already
Eb!N o for pilot signalldB1
been received are used for the channel estimation. Here, we use
N,+l pilot symbols in the time domain, ZN,+l pilot symbols in (b) N,=N,=3,fu=ZOOHz. q=I.Ops, €JNu=lOdB
Fig. 6 Effect ofpilol symbol's power VE. BER of user's data
the frequency domain, and (N,+1)(2N,+l) pilot symbols in total.
The channel estimate obtained bv this method is written as symbol are used., In Figure 5, we show the path model that
means delay profile as the propagation model. In this model,
a 5-path Rayleigh fading channel has an exponential decay of
the average received power with an equal interval of AT
between adjacent paths. Its decay factor is 3dB per path, and
each path is subjected to independent Rayleigh fading with
maximum Doppler frequencyfD. In this model, we set the
delay spread by changing the interval between paths. The
longest delay path is not longer than the guard interval. We
v. SIMULATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS also assume that frequency synchronization and timing
We evaluate our proposed method with computer synchronization are ideal. And interference from other cells
simulation. In this paper, we show results of only the stored is not considered. In our simulation, received power of pilot
method. The parameters used in the simulation are shown in symbols is not taken into account for the calculation of
Table 1. The processing gain, Pc, is 16 for both pilot and data received EdNOof data symbols.
symbols, and 15 codes for users and one code for pilot In the following simulation, we assume that the number of
pilot symbols used in one side of each time and frequency
TABLEI SIMULATION PARAMETERS
I40.961MHzI
domain is N,=N,=3, that is 49 pilot symbols in total are used
1024 for coherent addition. And received EdNOequals 10dB.
Guard mtcwal length 114 symbol lcnglh First, we show BER performance o f several forgetting
Pmccfsing gain: i',; 16 factors, A, and Afias a function of received EdN0 of pilot
Spreadingcode OVSF
symbols. Fig. 6(a) shows the result in case of maximum
lrtodulatm QPSK

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 I

6a; 0.1

. . . . .. ..
.. .. ... ..
. .
L . -2
0.011 ’ ~

0.2 0.4 06 0.8 I 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8

o)iN

(a) N, =3, A,= I.O,/b= I OHz. EdNcrI OdB

i
..+. .

_--0 j

--e- ,

0.01 ;~~~ : ....!......

- ~ ~:
~............~
~ : :.~~~-.1
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 I 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8
aJi4 5 00

(b) N, =3, A+.4,/o=ZWHz. EhlN,,=lOdB

Fig. 7 Relation between forgetting factors and delay spread
Doppler frequency,fu=lOHz and delay spread a,=0.25ps. Fig.
6(h) shows the result in case offu =200Hz and 4=1.0 ps. In
figures, it is shown that optimal values of forgetting factors
change according to propagation environments. For examplc,
when of pilot symbols is IOdB, BER of user’s data
becomes the best at A,= A ~ l . 0in case of Fig. 6(a), and at
A= Ar0.2 in case of Fig. 6(h).
Then, we clarify the relation between delay spread q and
forgetting factor for the frequency domain Af HereaRer,
receivedE&” ofpilot symbols is also IOdB. Fig. 7(a) shows
UER performance versus UTas a parameter of 2, Here,fu is
IOHz. The forgetting factor for the time domain A i s fixed at
1.0 because fu of IOHz is small. Fig. 7(h) shows BER
performance when fu is 200Hz. Here, $, is fixed at 0.4
hecausefu of 200Hz is large. In these figures, it is shown that
BER performance becomes better as A, becomes bigger in
case of small delay spread, and UER performance becomes
worse as 3, becomes bigger in case of large delay spread.
Moreover, it is shown that the optimal +changes according
tofu.
Then, we calculate the relation betweenfu and.2,. Fig. S(a)
EdN,rlOdB
(b) N I = 3 , 2 ~ 0 . 4~=l.Op$,
.
Fig. 8 Relation between forgelling factors and Doppler frequency
shows UER performance versus fD as a parameter of A,. Here,
0; is 0 . 2 5 ~A,~ is
. fixed at 1 .O because rq of 0 . 2 5 is
~~ small.
Fig. 8(b) shows BER performance when 0;is 1 . 0 ~Here, ~. 2 ,
is fixed at 0.4 by considering large osof 1.0ps. In these
figures, it is shown that BER performance becomes better as
>L, becomes bigger in case of low maximum Doppler
frequency, and BER performance becomes worse as A,
becomes bigger in case of high maximum Doppler
frequency.
From these results, it is clear that acucracy of channel
estimation can he improved by optimizing forgetting factors
according to fD and 4. In Figure 9, we show a flow, which
realizes our proposed methods. First, we generate a table that
has optimal forgetting factors according tofu and U,. Then,
MS selects the optimal forgetting factors according tofu and
oswhich are measured by itself. With our proposed methods,
accuracy of channel estimation can he improved, that is, BER
can be improved. Nevertheless, our proposed methods are
very simple because MS needs only a table with forgetting
factors, and selects optimal forgetting factors according tofo

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 and q.

VI. CONCLUSION
In this paper, we proposed a novel channel estimation
method for time-domain spreading MC-CDMA systems. In this
method, pilot symbols in both time and frequency domains are
used for coherent addition. Each pilot symbol is multiplied by a
weight, which is adaptively determined according to
propagation environments such as maximum Doppler
frequency and delay spread. Then, we clarified the optimal
weighting factor for each propagation environment. Moreover,
I+ selection
tab'e for Optima'
parameter
we showed a method that selects the optimal weighting factor
according to maximum Doppler frequency and delay spread, Fig. 9 Control Algorithm
which realize our proposed method.
From our results, following things were clarified.
-The optimal weighting factor changes drastically according
to maximum Doppler frequency and delay spread
-By optimizing weighting factors, BER performance is
improved, in other words, transmission power of pilot symbols
for the same BER performance is saved.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors would like to thank Mr. Y. Nakano, a vice
president of R&D Product & Services Supplier Unit, Japan
Telecom Co., Ltd. for his helpful comments.

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