Reliable multicarrier communication in the presence of timing phase error

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for reliable multicarrier communication in the presence of timing phase error is disclosed. Phase noise due to a sampling-time phase mismatch between a transmitter device and a receiver device is measured in a signal. A Gaussian noise power level in the signal is determined, and a gain factor associated with the phase noise is calculated. The gain factor is applied to the Gaussian noise power level to calculate an equivalent noise power. In one aspect, the equivalent noise power is used to determine a signal-to-noise ratio. In another aspect, the signal is a multicarrier signal including a plurality of sub-carriers.

1 . A method comprising:
 measuring phase noise in a signal, the phase noise due to a sampling-time phase mismatch between a transmitter device and a receiver device;   determining a Gaussian noise power level in the signal;   calculating a gain factor associated with the phase noise; and   applying the gain factor to the Gaussian noise power level to calculate an equivalent noise power.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a signal-to-noise ratio based on a signal power of the signal and the calculated equivalent noise power.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the signal is a multicarrier signal including a plurality of sub-carriers. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the Gaussian noise power level comprises:
 determining the total noise power level in the signal; and   subtracting the phase noise power level from said total noise power level in the signal.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising determining bit-loading based on the signal-to-noise ratio. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising determining a bit-error rate based on the equivalent noise power. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 determining a first gain factor and a first equivalent noise power for a first sub-carrier; and   determining a second gain factor and a second equivalent noise power for a second sub-carrier.   
   
   
       8 . A machine-readable medium storing executable instructions to a cause a device to perform a method comprising:
 measuring phase noise in a signal, the phase noise due to a sampling-time phase mismatch between a transmitter device and a receiver device;   determining a Gaussian noise power level in the signal;   calculating a gain factor associated with the phase noise; and   applying the gain factor to the Gaussian noise power level to calculate an equivalent noise power.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein determining the Gaussian noise power level comprises:
 determining the total noise power level in the signal; and   subtracting the phase noise power level from said total noise power level in the signal.   
   
   
       10 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises:
 determining a signal-to-noise ratio based on a signal power of the signal and the calculated equivalent noise power.   
   
   
       11 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the signal is a multicarrier signal including a plurality of sub-carriers. 
   
   
       12 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises determining bit-loading based on the signal-to-noise ratio. 
   
   
       13 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises determining a bit-error rate based on the equivalent noise power. 
   
   
       14 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
 determining a first gain factor and a first equivalent noise power for a first sub-carrier; and   determining a second gain factor and a second equivalent noise power for a second sub-carrier.   
   
   
       15 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for measuring phase noise in a signal, the phase noise due to a sampling-time phase mismatch between a transmitter device and a receiver device;   means for determining a Gaussian noise power level in the signal;   means for calculating a gain factor associated with the phase noise; and   means for applying the gain factor to the Gaussian noise power level to calculate an equivalent noise power.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 means for determining a signal-to-noise ratio based on a signal power of the signal and the calculated equivalent noise power.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the signal is a multicarrier signal including a plurality of sub-carriers. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising means for determining bit-loading based on the signal-to-noise ratio. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising means for determining a bit-error rate based on the equivalent noise power. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 means for determining a first gain factor and a first equivalent noise power for a first sub-carrier; and   means for determining a second gain factor and a second equivalent noise power for a second sub-carrier.