Multiple Access

Techniques
The transmission from the BS in the downlink can

be heard by each and every mobile user in the cell,

and is referred as broadcasting. Transmission from
the mobile users in the uplink to the BS is many-toone, and is referred to as multiple access.
Multiple access schemes to allow many users to
share simultaneously a finite amount of radio
spectrum resources.

Should not result in severe degradation in the performance

of the system as compared to a single user scenario.
Approaches can be broadly grouped into two categories:
narrowband and wideband.

Multiple Access
Techniques

Multiple Accessing Techniques : with possible

conflict and conflict- free

Random access
Frequency division multiple access (FDMA)
Time division multiple access (TDMA)
Spread spectrum multiple access (SSMA) : an
example is Code division multiple access (CDMA)
Space division multiple access (SDMA)

Multiple Access Techniques

-- Narrowband Systems

Transmission experiences nonselective fading. This

means that when fades occur, all of the information (i.e.
the whole channel) is affected.
Channel system : generally total spectrum is divided into
a number of relatively narrow radio channels (e.g.
FDMA). Occurrence of call blocking if channels are all
being used. Unused bandwidth in each channel cannot
be used by other users.

Narrowband Systems
(Interleaving + coding techniques are

used)
Data generated in source 1 2 3 4
5 8 9 10 11 12 15 16 17 18

Transmitted data 1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 3 10 17 24
Received data 1 8 15 22 29 2 9
16 23 30 3 10 17 24 31
with the shaded data bits undergo
deep fade
Deinterleaved data 1 2 3 4 5 8
9 15 16 17 18

Multiple Access Techniques

-- Wideband Systems

The main feature of wideband systems is that either

all the spectrum available (e.g. CDMA, TDMA) or a
considerable portion of it is used by each user (e.g.
TDMA+FDMA).
The advantage of wideband systems is that the
transmission bandwidth always exceeds the
coherence bandwidth for which the signal
experiences only selective fading. That is, only a
small fraction of the frequencies composing the
signal is affected by fading.
Signal can be distorted and therefore equalization is
needed but unlikely that a total signal fade will occur.

Duplexing

For voice or data communications, must

assure two way communication (duplexing, it
is possible to talk and listen simultaneously).
Duplexing may be done using frequency or
time domain techniques.

Forward (downlink) band provides traffic from the

BS to the mobile
Reverse (uplink) band provides traffic from the
mobile to the BS.

Frequency division duplexing

(FDD)

Provides two distinct bands of frequencies for

every user, one for downlink and one for
uplink.
A large interval between these frequency
bands must be allowed so that interference is
minimized. Reverse
Forward
Channel
fc,
R

Channel
fc,,

frequency

Frequency separation F

Frequency separation should be carefully decided

Frequency separation is constant

Time division duplexing (TDD)

In TDD communications, both directions of transmission use

one contiguous frequency allocation, but two separate time
slots to provide both a forward and reverse link.
Because transmission from mobile to BS and from BS to
mobile alternates in time, this scheme is also known as ping
pong.
As a consequence of the use of the same frequency band, the
communication quality in both directions is the same. This is
different from FDD.

Time division duplexing (TDD)

Slot number

channel

Reverse
Channel

Forward
Channel
Ti+1

Ti
Time separation

time

Random Access -- Aloha

systems

Aloha is a packet-switching system. The time interval required to

transmit one packet is called a slot.
When transmissions from two or more users overlap, they
destroy each other, whether it is complete overlap or partial
overlap collision takes place.
The maximum interval over which two packets can overlap and
destroy each other is called the vulnerable period.
The mode of random access in which users can transmit at
anytime is called pure Aloha. In this case, the vulnerable period
is two slot times.
A version in which users are restricted to transmit only from the
instant corresponding to the slot boundary is referred to as
slotted Aloha. The alignment of transmission to coincide with the
slot boundary means that packets can only experience complete
overlap, so the vulnerable period is only one slot time.

Random Access -- Aloha

systems

Throughput of Aloha systems

In the Aloha systems, a transmitting user upon

hearing a collision, backs off for a random delay
interval and transmits again, until success is
achieved. This is known as collision resolution.
We assume that the total traffic generated for
transmission (including re-transmission) obeys a
Poisson distribution.
The transmission is successful when there is no
other packet transmission during the vulnerable
period.

Throughput of Aloha systems

Throughput of Aloha systems

P (success) =P (no other packet transmission occurs

within a vulnerable period)
Let S be the throughput, defined as the successfully
transmitted traffic load, and G be the total offered
channel traffic load. Assuming that traffic generated for
transmission obeys a Poisson distribution, then
P (no other packet transmission occurs) = exp(G)
where is the vulnerable period.
Hence P (success) = exp (G)
By definition P (success) = S /G,
therefore S = G exp (G)

Throughput of Aloha systems

Delay

The delay experienced by a packet in the

system is measured from the instant of the
packets arrival until the instant the sender
receives confirmation.
It is a function of the number of transmission,
the retransmission delay and the time
required for the sender to receive
confirmation of successful transmission.

Delay

The mean number of transmission until success

The average packet delay for pure Aloha

The average packet delay for slotted Aloha

The mean re-transmission delay depends on the collision

resolution algorithm used.

Delay

FDMA

In FDMA, each user is allocated a unique

frequency band or channel. During the period
of the call, no other user can share the same
frequency band.

FDMA

All channels in a cell are available to all the mobiles. Channel

assignment is carried out on a first-come first- served basis.
The number of channels, given a frequency spectrum BT ,
depends on the modulation technique (hence Bw or Bc ) and
the guard bands between the channels 2Bguard . These
guard bands allow for imperfect filters and oscillators and can
be used to minimize adjacent channel interference.
FDMA is usually implemented in narrowband systems.

Main features

Continuous transmission : the channels, once assigned, are

used on a non-time-sharing basis. This means that both
subscriber and BS can use their corresponding allotted channels
continuously and simultaneously.
Narrow bandwidth : Analog cellular systems use 25-30 kHz.
Digital FDMA systems can make use of low bit rate speech
coding techniques to reduce the channel band even more.
If FDMA channels are not in use, then they sit idle and cannot be
used by other users to increase capacity.
Low ISI : Symbol time is large compared to delay spread. No
equalizer is required (Delay spread is generally less than a few
s flat fading).

Main features

Low overhead : Carry overhead messages for control,

synchronization purposes. As the allotted channels can be used
continuously, fewer bits need to be dedicated compared to TDMA
channels.
Simple hardware at mobile unit and BS : (1) no digital processing
needed to combat ISI (2) ease of framing and synchronization.
Use of duplexer since both the transmitter and receiver operate
at the same time. This results in an increase in the cost of mobile
and BSs.

FDMA required tight RF filtering to minimize adjacent channel

interference.

Nonlinear effects in FDMA

In a FDMA system, many channels share the same

antenna at the BS. The power amplifiers or the
power combiners, when operated at or near
saturation are nonlinear.
The nonlinear ties generate inter-modulation
frequencies.

Undesirable harmonics generated outside the mobile radio

band cause interference to adjacent services.
Undesirable harmonics present inside the band cause
interference to other users in the mobile system.

FDMA

TDMA

TDMA systems divide the channel time into frames.

Each frame is further partitioned into time slots. In
each slot only one user is allowed to either transmit
or receive.
Unlike FDMA, only digital data and digital modulation
must be used.
Each user occupies a cyclically repeating time slot,
so a channel may be thought of as a particular time
slot of every frame, where N time slots comprise a
frame.

Features

Multiple channels per carrier or RF channels.

Burst transmission since channels are used
on a timesharing basis. Transmitter can be
turned off during idle periods.
Narrow or wide bandwidth depends on
factors such as modulation scheme, number
of voice channels per carrier channel.
High ISI Higher transmission symbol rate,
hence resulting in high ISI. Adaptive equalizer
required.

Features

High framing overhead A reasonable amount of the

total transmitted bits must be dedicated to
synchronization purposes, channel identification. Also
guard slots are necessary to separate users.

TDMA Frame
One TDMA Frame
Preamble

Slot 1

Guard
Bits

Sync
Bits

Information

Slot 2

Control
Bits

Slot 3

Trail Bits

Information
One TDMA Slot
A Frame repeats in time

Slot N

CRC

Features

A guard time between the two time slots must be allowed

in order to avoid interference, especially in the uplink
direction. All mobiles should synchronize with BS to
minimize interference.

Features

The use of digital technology permits the inclusion of

several facilities in the mobile unit, increasing its
complexity. One example is the use of slow
frequency hopping to counteract multi-path fading.
Flexible data rates by assigning multiple time slots
to different users based on their demand.
No duplexer used since uses different time slots for
transmission and reception. Even if FDD is used, a
switch rather than a duplexer is required.
Lower BS cost : the use of multiple channels per
carrier channel provides a proportional reduction of
the equipment at the BS.

Features

Efficient power utilization : FDMA systems require a

3- to 6-dB power back off in order to compensate for
inter-modulation effects.
Efficient handoff : TDMA systems can take
advantage of the fact that the transmitter is switched
off during idle time slots to improve the handoff
procedure. An enhanced link control, such as that
provided by mobile assisted handoff (MAHO) can be
carried out by a subscriber by listening to
neighboring base station during the idle slot of the
TDMA frame.

Efficiency of TDMA

Efficiency of TDMA is a measure of the

percentage of bits per frame which contain
transmitted data. The transmitted data
include source and channel coding bits.

bOH includes all overhead bits such as

preamble, guard bits, etc.

TDMA/TDD and TDMA/FDD

In TDMA/TDD system, half of the time slots in

the frame information message would be
used for the forward link channels and half
would be used for reverse link channels.
Same channel conditions.
In TDMA/FDD systems, same frame structure
can be used for both forward and reverse
transmission but carrier frequencies used are
different.

TDMA/TDD and TDMA/FDD

Cellular Systems and MAC

Cellular System

Multiple Access Technique

AMPS

FDMA/FDD

GSM

TDMA/FDD

USDC (IS-54 and IS-136)

TDMA/FDD

PDC

TDMA/FDD

CT2 Cordless Phone

FDMA/TDD

DECT Cordless Phone

FDMA/TDD

US IS-95

CDMA/FDD

W-CDMA

CDMA/FDD
CDMA/TDD

cdma2000

CDMA/FDD
CDMA/TDD

Synchronous and asynchronous

TDMA

Previously we mentioned the same slot of all the frames are

assigned to the same user. The slot assignment can actually be
fixed or dynamic.
If the assigned slot is fixed from frame to frame for the duration
of the connection, the users have to synchronize to their
respective assigned slots. This mode of TDMA is referred to as
STDMA.
With packet-switched transmission, it is more efficient to allow a
user to transmit only when it has packets to send. Transmission
slots are dynamically assigned from frame to frame. This mode is
known as ATDMA.
A TDMA is implemented using a reservation access mechanism.

SSMA

Spread spectrum systems : The desired

signal is transmitted over a bandwidth which
is much larger than the Nyquist bandwidth. It
is first developed for military applications for

Security
Undetectability: minimum probability of being
detected
Robust against intentional jammers

Applications

Security
Robust against unintentional interference
It is not bandwidth efficient when used by a single
user but has the capability to overcome narrowband
jamming signals (cannot overcome AWGN or
wideband jamming signal) and multi-path.
Providing multiple access
If many users can share the same spread spectrum
bandwidth without interfering with one another,
bandwidth efficient improved but will affect the
capability to overcome jamming.

Spread Spectrum Access

Two techniques

Frequency Hopped Multiple Access (FHMA)

Direct Sequence Multiple Access (DSMA)

Also called Code Division Multiple Access CDMA

Frequency Hopping (FHMA)

Digital muliple access technique

A wideband radio channel is used.

Same wideband spectrum is used

The carrier frequency of users are varied in a pseudorandom fashion.

Each user is using a narrowband channel (spectrum)
at a specific instance of time.
The random change in frequency make the change of
using the same narrowband channel very low.

Frequency Hopping (FHMA)

The sender receiver change frequency (calling

hopping) using the same pseudo-random
sequence, hence they are synchronized.
Rate of hopping versus Symbol rate

If hopping rate is greather: Called Fast Frequency

Hopping
One bit transmitted in multiple hops.
If symbol rate is greater: Called Slow Frequency
Hopping
Multiple bits are transmitted in a hopping period
GSM and Bluetooth are example systems

Code Division Multiple Access

(CDMA)

In CDMA, the narrowband message signal is multiplied

by a very large bandwidth signal called spreading signal
(code) before modulation and transmission over the air.
This is called spreading.

CDMA is also called DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread

Spectrum). DSSS is a more general term.

Message consists of symbols

Has symbol period and hence, symbol rate

EE 552/452 Spring 2007

Code Division Multiple Access

(CDMA)

Spreading signal (code) consists of chips

Has Chip period and and hence, chip rate

Spreading signal use a pseudo-noise (PN) sequence (a
pseudo-random sequence)
PN sequence is called a codeword
Each user has its own cordword
Codewords are orthogonal. (low autocorrelation)
Chip rate is oder of magnitude larger than the symbol rate.

The receiver correlator distinguishes the senders

signal by examining the wideband signal with the
same time-synchronized spreading code
The sent signal is recovered by despreading process
at the receiver.

CDMA Advantages

Low power spectral density.

Signal is spread over a larger frequency band
Other systems suffer less from the transmitter
Interference limited operation
All frequency spectrum is used
Privacy
The codeword is known only between the
sender and receiver. Hence other users can
not decode the messages that are in transit
Reduction of multipath affects by using a larger
spectrum

CDMA Advantages

Random access possible

Users can start their transmission at any time

Cell capacity is not concerete fixed like in

TDMA or FDMA systems. Has soft capacity
Higher capacity than TDMA and FDMA
No frequency management
No equalizers needed
No guard time needed
Enables soft handoff

CDMA Principle
Represent bit 1 with +1
Represent bit 0 with -1
One bit period (symbol period)

Data

0
1

1 1

Coded
Signal

Input to the modulator (phase modulation)

Chip period

Processing Gain
Main parameter of CDMA is the processing gain that is
defined as:

Gp

Bspread
R

Bchip
R

Gp: processing gain

Bspread: PN code rate
Bchip: Chip rate
R: Data rate

IS-95 System (Narrowband CDMA) has a gain of 64. Other systems have gain between 10
and 100.
1.228 Mhz chipping rate
1.25 MHz spread bandwidth

Near Far Problem and Power

Control

At a receiver, the signals

may come from various
(multiple sources.
The strongest signal
usually captures the
modulator. The other
signals are considered
as noise
Each source may have
different distances to
the base station

pr(M)

M
M

M
M

Near Far Problem and Power

Control

In CDMA, we want a base station to receive

CDMA coded signals from various mobile users at
the same time.

Therefore the receiver power at the base station for all

mobile users should be close to eacother.
This requires power control at the mobiles.

Power Control: Base station monitors the RSSI

values from different mobiles and then sends
power change commands to the mobiles over a
forward channel. The mobiles then adjust their
transmit power.

DSSS Transmitter
Message
m(t)

sss(t)

Baseband
BPF

Transmitted
Signal

p(t)
PN Code
Generator

Oscillator
fc

Chip Clock

2 Es
sss (t )
m(t ) p (t ) cos(2f c t )
Ts

DSSS Receiver
IF Wideband
Filter

sss (t )
Received
DSSS Signal
at IF

s1 (t )

Phase Shift Keying

Demodulator

p (t )
PN Code
Generator

Synchronization
System

2 Es
s1 (t )
m(t ) cos(2f c t )
Ts

m(t )
Received
Data

Spectra of Received Signal

Spectral
Density

Interference

Spectral
Density

Signal

Interference
Signal

Frequency

Output of Wideband filter

Frequency

Output of Correlator after

dispreading,
Input to Demodulator

CDMA Example
R

Data=1011

A
Transmitter (a mobile)
Codeword=010011

Receiver (a base station)

Data=0010

B
Transmitter
Codeword=101010

Data transmitted from A and B is multiplexed using CDMA and codeword.

The Receiver de-multiplexes the data using dispreading.

CDMA Example transmission from two

sources
1

A Data

A
Codeword

0 1

0 1

Data Code
A Signal

1 0

0 1

B Data

1 0

0 1

0 1

1 1

B
Codeword

Data Code
B Signal
Transmitted
A+B
Signal

CDMA Example recovering signal A at

the receiver
A+B
Signal
received
A
Codeword
at
receiver

(A B) Code

Integrator
Output

Comparator
Output

Take the inverse of this to obtain A

CDMA Example recovering signal B at

the receiver
A+B
Signal
received
B
Codeword
at
receiver

(A B) Code

Integrator
Output

Comparator
Output

Take the inverse of this to obtain B

CDMA Example using wrong codeword at

the receiver
A+B
Signal
received
Wrong
Codeword
Used at
receiver

Integrator
Output

Comparator
Output

X
Noise

Wrong codeword will not be able to decode the original data!

Hybrid Spread Spectrum

Techniques

FDMA/CDMA

Available wideband spectrum is frequency

divided into number narrowband radio channels.
CDMA is employed inside each channel.

DS/FHMA

The signals are spread using spreading codes

(direct sequence signals are obtained), but these
signal are not transmitted over a constant carrier
frequency; they are transmitted over a frequency
hopping carrier frequency.

Hybrid Spread Spectrum Techniques

Time Division CDMA (TCDMA)

Each cell is using a different spreading code (CDMA

employed between cells) that is conveyed to the mobiles
in its range.
Inside each cell (inside a CDMA channel), TDMA is
employed to multiplex multiple users.

Time Division Frequency Hopping

At each time slot, the user is hopped to a new frequency

according to a pseudo-random hopping sequence.
Employed in severe co-interference and multi-path
environments.

Bluetooth and GSM are using this technique.

Capacity of CDMA Systems

Uplink Single-cell System Model

Assumptions

User 2

...
User 1

User k

.
.
.

.
.
.
...

User Ku

User n

Total active users Ku

The intra-cell MAI can be
modeled as AWGN
Perfect power control is
assumed
Random sequences

Capacity of CDMA Systems

Coarse estimate of the reverse link (uplink) capacity

Assumptions:
Single Cell.
The interference caused by other users in the cell can be
modeled as AWGN.
Perfect power control is used, i.e. the received power of each
user at the base station is the same.
If the received power of each user is Ps watts, and the background
noise can be ignored (ex: micro-cells), then the total interference
power (MAI) at the output of the desired users detector is

I K 1 P

u of equal
s energy users in the cell.
where Ku is the total number
Suppose each user can operate against Gaussian noise at a bitenergy-to-noise density level of Eb/Io. Let W be the entire spread
bandwidth, then the interference spectral density can be expressed
as:

I0

I
W

Watts / Hz (one sided )

Capacity of CDMA Systems

Interference
limited

Ps
Rb
I
I W W Rb
K u 1 0

Ps E b R b E b I 0

Also, the bit energy Eb is Eb

Thus,

Now, if we consider the factors of voice activity (G v), sectorized

antenna gain (GA), and other-cell interface factor (f), where
Gv 1/v = 2.67
GA (three sectors) 2.4
f = (Interference form other cells)/(Interference from given cell) 0.6

EE 552/452 Spring 2007

Capacity of CDMA Systems

In this case, Ku can be approximated by
W R b Gv GA
Ku

E b I 0 1 f
Ex: If Gv 2.67, GA 2.4, f 0.6

Ku

4 W Rb
Eb I o

If (Eb/Io) required is 6 dB (i.e. Eb/Io = 4)

W
Rb
which will be larger than the TDMA or FDMA systems in the cellular
environment.
Ku

SDMA

Use spot beam antennas

The different beam area can use TDMA, FDMA,

CDMA
Sectorized antenna can be thought of as a SDMA
Adaptive antennas can be used in the future
(simultaneously steer energy
in the direction of many users) spot beam

antenna

Features:

A large number of independently steered

high-gain beams can be formed without any
resulting degradation in SNR ratio.
Beams can be assigned to individual users,
thereby assuring that all links operate with
maximum gain.
Adaptive beam forming can be easily
implemented to improve the system capacity
by suppressing co channel interference.