107

AN OVERVIEW OF MB-UWB OFDM

S. Ali Ghorashi, Ben Allen, Mohammad Ghavami, A. Hamid Aghvami

Centre for Telecommunications Research, King's College London seyed.ghorashi@kcl.ac.uk

INTRODUCTION
In Fehrualy 2002, the-FCC allowed.3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz for use by Ultra Wide Band (UWB) devices. This ruling has generated lots of interest in developing UWB communication systems. UWB technology is highly anticipated because it provides the Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) connectivity of Bluetooth, but at speeds of up to 500 times faster or possibly even more. With this technology the energy is spread across an extremely large bandwidth to insure that the presence of the transmitted signal is virtually undetectable by traditional frequency-selective radio receivers. Other applications include: radar, sensor networks, hio-medical imaging. This paper focuses on WPAN applications. UWB systems can be divided into two groups: single hand and multi-band. Candidate single hand systems are: time-hopping spread spectrum impulse radio (THUWB) and direct sequence spread-spectrum impulse radio (DS-UWB). In TH-UWB, the time when pulses are transmitted is determined based on a pseudorandom sequence, while in DS-UWB, a pseudorandom sequence is used to spread the information bits which are continuously transmitted. In multi-band UWB, the spectrum is divided into several sub bands. One strong UWB candidate employs orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) together with frequency hopping between each suh-hand. Signals are transmitted in each band with sufficient time interval to minimise the inter symbol interference. This is termed multi-band OFDM (MB-OFDM). Two main proposals are being introduced to the IEEE 802.15.3a standardisation committee for WPANs, which is charged with finalising a standard for short range, high data rate applications. The two proposals include the Multi-Band-OFDM Alliance (MBOA) [I], led by Intel Corp., and the double-band scheme proposed by XtremeSpectrum group, led by Motorola Inc.. The multi-band approach would divide the 7.5 GHz of spectrum into several smaller subhands, that would he added or dropped depending upon the interference from (or to) other systems [2,3]. The second approach is based upon the DS-CDMA system which splits the hand into two sub-hands (low band: 3.1 to 5.15 GHz and high hand: 5.825 to 10.6 GHz). This activity is lead by Motorola. Till May 2004, MBOFDM proposal has not yet achieved the necessaly 75% votes to he approved. This paper presents an overview of the UWB-OFDM proposal.
'

MULTI-BAND OFDM (MB- OFDM)

In MB-OFDM the spectrum between 3.1 to 10.6 GHz is divided into 14 bands that are 528 MHz (Fig. 1). The three lower hands are used for standard operation (mandatory) and the rest of the bands are allocated for optional use or future expansions since propagation loss severely limits signals at higher frequencies [4]. Information is transmitted using Orthogonal Frequency Division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation on each band and different Time-Frequency Codes (frequency hopping patterns) are utilised for channelisation. One OFDM symbol has a duration of 312.5 ns and a bandwidth of 528 MHz. The proposed UWB system uses a total of 122 sub-carriers that are modulated using quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK). In the transmitter a 128-point IFFT is used. 100 sub-carriers are allocated to data, 12 sub-carries are allocated to pilot for channel estimation and 10 sub-carriers are allocated to guard interval which provides sufficient time for switching between bands. The rest of the subcarriers, #62 to 66 and the 0 (DC) input, are set to zero. A 60.6111s cyclic prefix duration provides robustness against multi-path. The proposed physical layer UWB supports data rates of 80, 110, 160,200, 320, and 480 Mhps where the support for transmitting and receiving at data rates of 55, 110, and 200 Mbps is mandatoly. Forward error correction coding (convolutional coding) is used with a coding rate of 11/32, 112, 5/8, and 3/4. Multiple access is achieved by utilising different preambles and Time-Frequency Codes (TFC) for different UWB users. As an example, when a UWB piconet uses the TFC of [I 3 2 1 3 21, it means that for that user, the first OFDM symbol i s sent on both bands 1 and 3, the second OFDM symbol is repeated on bands 2 and 1 and the information in the third OFDM symhol is sent on hands 3 and 2. This time domain spreading operates for data rates of 55, 80, I IO, 160 and 200 Mhps. Four TFCs per hand group (#l- #4) and two TFCs per hand group(#5) allows for a total of 18 (4x4+2) piconets to simultaneously operate (Table 1). The transmitter structure is shown in Fig. 2.

MB - OFDM ADVANTAGES
The multi-band design of MB-OFDM allows the technology to cope with local regulations by dynamically turning off some hands to comply with local rules of operation on allocated spectrum. In

0 2004 The Institution of Electrical Engineers Printed and published by the IEE, Michael Faraday House, Six Hills Way, Stevenage, Herts SG1 2AY, UK
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addition, the proposal also allows good coexistence with narrowband systems (Fig. 3). For example there is the flexibility to avoid group band #2 when and if Unlicensed-National Information Infrastructure interference, such as from IEEE 802.11a WLANs, is present. The low in-band and out-of-band emission limits ruled by FCC (or European organizations such as ETSI ERM TG31A which is working towards the standardization of the UWB technology) ensure that UWB devices do not cause harmful interference to licensed services and other radio operators such as cellular, PCS, GPS, 802.11a, satellite radio and terrestrial radio. OFDM, which allows for each UWB suh-band to be divided into a set of orthogonal narrowband channels (with much larger symbol period duration), successfully reduces the effects of ISI. This robust multipath tolerance comes at the price of increased transceiver complexity (compared to impulse radio architecture), the need to combat inter-carrier interference (ICI), and tighter linear constraint on amplifying circuit elements. The key signal-processing block in OFDM (the FFTOFFT) has been shown to require around 50K gates, which contribute only a very small area to the total silicon real estate [ 5 ] . Other advantages of the proposed MB-OFDM include low cost, high data rate, good quality of service, low power consumption, capability to be mesh networked, cope with ad-hoc decentralized environment, adaptation to different regulatory environments and future scalability and backward compatibility. It should he noted that 802.15.3.a is supposed to uses the same media access control (MAC) layer as IEEE 802.15.3 [6]. However, the MBOA has proclaimed that it will add some fbnctions to the MAC layer. These functions are for mobile devices and meshes, where groups of UWB devices create their own networks on an ad-hoc basis

MB-OFDM also has major differences with WiFi systems. MB-OFDM has a much shorter range: up to 10 meters versus 30.to 60 meters for Wi-Fi. While WiFi can supply a higher date rate than Bluetooth technology, it still does not deliver sufficient performance to effectively allow streaming of multiple simultaneous high-quality video streams. The wireless networking technologies developed for wirelessly connecting PCs, such as Wi-Fi* and Bluetooth* technology, are not optimized for multiple highbandwidth usage models of the digital home.

APPLICATIONS
MB-OFDM UWB technology can.enable high-speed wireless universal serial bus (WUSB) connectivity for PCs and PC peripherals. The USB, with one billion units in the installed base, is the most. successful interface in PC history. Projections are for 3.5 billion interfaces shipped by 2006. Wireless USB will build on the success of wired USB, bringing USB technology into the wireless future. Examples include printers, scanners, digital projectors, PDAs, DVDs, and external storage devices (Fig. 4). It can also replace IEEE1394 cables between portable multimedia CE devices, such as camcorders, digital cameras, and portable MP3 players, with wireless connectivity [SI. Cables in next-generation devices, such as 3G cell phones, as well as IP/UPnP-based connectivity for the next generation of IP-based PC/CE/ mobile devices can also be replaced. These all can be used in wireless home connectivity solutions such as video streaming, digital TV, DVDs, Set Top Boxes, PVRs, stereos, camcorders, digital cameras, and other CE devices, as well as fast downloads of rich content, camera to PC, home gateway to portable device. The aim would be

the replacement of every in-room wire, except the

power cord, by a wireless connection.

PI.
MARKET CONSIDERATIONS COMPARISON TECHNOLOGIES WITH OTHER
For MB-OFDM UWB technology to become a widely adopted radio solution, some key issues need to be resolved such as data rate performance, power consumption, co-existence with other wireless devices, immunity to interference, interoperability, ease of product integration and certification, and global spectrum allocation. In May 2004, a MB-OFDM transceiver chip UB501 was built with SiGeBiCMOS technology. It supports a range of data rates up to 480Mbps in a frequency spectrum between 3.1 and 7,4GHz. It has 56-pin package and requires several passive components, an off-the-shelf crystal and no external power amplifier. It also has fast-switching generator needed to enable rapid switching among the eight MBOA bands the chip supports switch within several nanoseconds to any band of the eight allowed from 3.1 to 7.4 GHz [9].

MB-OFDM and impulse radio DS-CDMA proposals are different in many aspects. An impulse radio system mitigates the effect of narrow hand interference through the processing gain inherent in a DS-SS system with a Rake receiver. In MB-OFDM system the band under attack can be dropped, thus, MB-OFDM has greater flexibility in coexisting with other international wireless systems and future government regulators. CDMA impulse radio needs a Rake equalizer to exploit multipath, while MB-OFDM does not require an equalizer in its receiver structure. Impulse radio has more resolvable multipath components because of its wider bandwidth; therefore it needs a more complex receiver with high number of Rake fingers.

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109

All actors in UWB expect early versions of working hardware and software to become available late this year or early 2005, with consumer products appearing later in that year. The market is expected to grow from zero to nearly six million UWB nodes embedded in various devices by 2007, according to tech consultancy In-StamDR [lo].

5 . R. Kolic, Ultra Wideband, the Next-Generation

Wireless Connection,
htt~:lldevicefor~e.com/articleslAT8 I7 1287040.html
6.

K. Mandke, H. Nam, L. Yerramneni, The Evolution of Ultra Wide Band Radio for Wireless Personal Area Networks,
hnu:llwww.hi~hhFrequencvelectronics.com/A

03lHFE0903 TechReuolt.Ddf

7. R. Goodwins, Ultrawideband standards split

SUMMARY
This paper has proposed an overview of the MBOFDM UWB wireless solution. It has been compared with other proposals, especially in terms of spectrum co-existence. deepens, httu:llnews.zdnet.co.ukicomrnu~1icationslwirelesslO.39O 20348.39149350.00.htrn 8. Ultra-Widehand (UWB) Technology Enabling high-speed wireless personal area networks, Intel white paper,
htto:llwww.intel.co~technoloev/ultrawideban~downlo

adsNltra-Wideband.udf

REFERENCES http://www.multibandofdm.org IEEE P802.15-031268r3, Multi-hand OFDM Physical Layer Proposal for IEEE 802.15 Task Group 3a, March. 2004. IEEE 802.15-04/0220rl, Multi-Band OFDM Physical Layer Proposal Update, Presentation, May. 2004. A Armogida, B Allen, M Ghavami, M Porretta, G Manara, H Agbvami, Path Loss Modelling in Short-Range UWB Transmissions, International Workshop on Ultra Wideband Systems, Oulu, Finland, June 2003.
Band Group #1
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9. Wisair Intros MB-OFDM Chip,

httu:llwww.unstruns.com/docurnent.asu?docid=50742 10. Then Theres UWB, WiM%<, ..., htto:/lnetscaoe.businessweek.comltechnoloev1contentife b2004ltc20040218 3031 tcl40.htm

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
S. Ali Ghorashi wishes to acknowledge the support provided by EPSRC (GR/S62017101)

Band Group #2

Band Gpup #3
\r

Band Group #4

Band Group #5
A Y

3432 3960 MHz MHz

4488 MHz

5016 MHz

5544 6072
MHz MHZ

6600
MHz

7128 MHz

7656 MHz

8184 MHz

8712 MHz

9240 MHz

9768 MHz

10296 MHz

Figure 1. MultiBand OFDM frequency band plan

Figure 2. Transmitter Structure

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110

Emitted Signal Power

4 . 2 5 dBm
(0.056 mW)

1.6 1.9

2.4

3.1 5 Frequency(GHz)

10.6

Figure 3. UWB spectrum and other radio operators

i -Printer
i -PDA
-RW/CD-RW -Mass Storaoe I Devices -Digital Projector Scanner

DatalAudio Access

- -------- _ _
Long Range Networking/ Connectivity (Wireless LAM)

I I I I I

.__

1 -PCVideo Conference 'I

I
I

i-.-.---.-.-.---.-.-.

Camera -Play Station - M P Player ~ -Digital camera I -Flash Card Reader

_I

Gaming:

I -Playstation

----

Wireless LAN Wireless USB

Fieure 4. Wireless USB scenarios

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