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A Novel Method for Reducing the Peak-to-Average-Power-Ratio of the Relay Station for the Decode-and-Forward Based Relay Network

Project ID: 1752-AP
Available for licensing

Background

Today's high demand for extended coverage and capacity for the wireless communication networks has enforced utilizing relays in the upcoming standards. Relays can dramatically increase the coverage and capacity of the wireless networks through manipulating the received signal from the base station and retransmitting it to the mobile user. Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is a powerful modulation technique designed to overcome the high scattering environments of urban areas. Therefore, the combination of the relays networks and the OFDM modulation are the foundations of developing wireless communication standards.

One of the widely studied operation modes of the relay stations is the decode-and-forward (DF) method, where the relay station decodes the received signal from the base station and resends the appropriately modulated version (together with other necessary information) to the mobile user.

Invention Description

In most cases where relay stations are incorporated, the direct link from the base station to the mobile station is weaker than the link from the relay station to the mobile station. This invention utilizes this fact to reduce the peak-to-average-power-ratio of the relay station. This PAPR reduction greatly benefits the overall performance of the wireless communication network (e.g., by indirectly reducing interference).

Benefits

Low-complexity implementation
Reduces the PAPR of the relay station
Improves the overall performance of the wireless network

Features

Adaptive to the sensed wireless environment
Candidate for future relay-based cellular networks

Market Potential/Applications

Decode-and-forward based relay networks utilizing orthogonal frequency division multiplexing as the modulation technique

UT Researcher

Robert W. Heath, Jr., Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
Ali Y. Panah, Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin

OTC Contact Information

Jitendra Jain, Licensing Specialist
jjain@otc.utexas.edu
512-471-9055