2004 IEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings
Mixed Modulation Signals for CDMA Capacity
Improvement
S.H. Raghavan, J.K. Holmes, K. P. Maine
The Aerospace Corp., El Segundo Calif.
310-3368817
j ack.k.holmes@aero.org
Abstract-it is well known that the capacity of the Code
Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system is limited by the
amount of self-interference, which is also called CDMA
noise, and is generated because of multiple signals
coexisting in the same band. Use of sectors, power control,
voice activity factor, directional antennas, diversity
combining, Rake receivers, and Multiple User Detection
Schemes are some of the techniques used to improve the
user capacity. In most of the systems a single modulation
scheme such as Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK),
Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK), or some form of
Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) is used. All these
signals have a power spectral density (PSD) with a centered
peak. One class of split spectrum modulation signals, such
as Binary Offset Camers (BOC), have their PSD peak away
from the center. In certain scenarios it is possible to use a
combination of different modulation schemes (mixed
modulation signals) with their correspondingly minimally
overlapping spectral shapes, to achieve up to 45%
improvement in the CDMA capacity.
In this paper a brief description of all the modulation
schemes used currently in a wireless communication system
is described. Examples of spectrally mixed modulation
schemes are described, followed by a discussion of the
capacity improvement expected for each case.
TABLEOF CONTENTS
..................................... 1
1. INTRODUCTION
2. OF BOC AND NRZ SIGNALS 2
DESCRIPTTON ...
3. CDMA CAPACITY EQUATION ..................3
4. A N EXAMPLEOF IMPROVED CAPACITY .....!.3
5. CAPACITY OF OTHER SPLIT BAND
NRZ SIGNALS ...................................... 5
6. CONCLUSIONS AND FURTHER WORK... .......7
REFERENCES.. ...........................................
‘ 0-7803-8155-6/04/$l7.000
2004 IEEE
IEEEAC paper # I 125, Version 2, Updated December 29,2003
0-7803-8155-6/04/$17.00 02004 IEEE
1. INTRODUCTION
All the modulation schemes commonly used in Code
Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communication systems
are based on Non-Retun to Zero waveforms. It is well
known that NRZ waveforms concentrate the energy towards
the center of the hand at the carrier frequency. The band
region away from the center of the frequency band is not
efficiently used. The power spectral density (PSD) of NRZ
signals follow a typical (sin’nx)/( nx)’ function, which has
nulls at the multiples of the spreading code chipping rate in
a CDMA system. The inefficient use of the spectrum using
NRZ signals leaves room for capacity improvement through
more efficient use of the spectrum.
The Global Positioning System (GPS), which is a satellite-
based navigation system, is a classic example of CDMA
systems, currently uses NRZ waveforms on spread spectrum
codes used by the military and civil communities. The new
signals planned for future use within GPS in the same
frequency band and other similar satellite navigation
systems such as the European version of the GPS, called
Galileo, again in the same kequency band, necessitated
looking at ways for accommodating more CDMA signals in
the same frequency band.
Split spectrum signals in general, and Binary Offset Carrier
(BOC) signals in particular, have their energy pushed away
from the center towards the NRZ nulls. Therefore, the
combination of these two signaling schemes in a given
bandwidth improves the bandwidth utilization beyond what
only one signaling scheme can do. GPS is taking advantage
of this improved spectrum utilization in their modemized
signals. Furthermore, the significantly reduced overlap
between the two signaling schemes also provides certain
flexibility in GPS operation in terms of the capability of
7 boosting the BOC signal, without affecting the NRZ signals.
In this paper we examine the CDMA capacity achievable in
CDMA communication systems using the technique for
better spectrum utilization adopted by the modemized GPS
signals. Even when it is not practical to mix the waveform
types in an existing CDMA system the concept described
1362
here may be useful to overlay a second CDMA system on
an existing one and achieve certain level of exclusivity for
the added CDMA sub-network within the overall network.
2. DESCRIPTION
OF NRZ AND BOC SIGNALS
The analysis presented in this paper is applicable to any
binary valued ( + I ) code, including NRZ and BOC signals.
For the purpose of discussion in this paper we consider two
classes of signals, (1) NRZ(K) and (2) BOC(M,N). The
NRZ signal has a code rate of K*R, Mcps, where K is some
integer and R, is the basic clock rate. The NRZ symbols are
rectangular pulses that take on the value of at the chip
rate. The BOC(M,N) symbol has a N*R, Mcps code
multiplied by a synchronous M*R, MHz squarewave. The
first parameter (M) of the BOC(M,N) signal denotes the
frequency of the underlying squarewave subcarrier, which
is M*& MHz, and the second parameter (N) denotes the
underlying code rate, which is N*& Mega symbols per
second (Msps). Both M and N are such that 2n is an
interger, where n=M/N. Figure 1 illustrates the product of
the squarewave and the underlying code, for the case in
which M = 2N. In this example it is seen that there are two
full squarewave cycles for each code symbol.
“I”Code Symbol “1” Code Symbol “0” Code Svmbol
s bandwidth, four pole, Chebychev filter with 0.1 dB ripple
P
*8
Figure 1 - Components of the BOC signal for which M = 2N
As an example, the power spectral density (PSD) plot of a
BOC signal and a Manchester signal (BOC(1/2,1/2)) are
BOC(1/2,1/2) ,N K ( I ~BCC(zi3.113)
-2 -1.5 -1 -0,s 0 0.5 I 1.5 2
Figure 2 - Spectral density of NRZ(l), BOC (112, 1/2)
(Manchester (112)) and BOC(2/3,1/3) modulation types
with no filtering
plotted in Figure 2, along with an NFU signal without
filtering. NRZ(1) denotes the fact that the normalized chip
rate is 1 so that the nulls are located at fl.The actual rate
could he I MHz or 12 KHz, for example. The abscissa is
in normalized frequency. It can he seen that the BOC signal
has the main response at (approximately) the subcarrier
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frequency offset from the carrier frequency (213 of a
frequency unit in this example), and there are other minor
responses including the odd harmonics of the subcarrier
frequency away from the carrier frequency. The underlying
code rate is 1/3 of a frequency unit. The BOC(1/2,1/2) also
known as a Manchester (112) signal has a spectral response
that runs from a null at the camer frequency out to k1
frequency units. It also has harmonics at multiples of the
subcarrier frequency (3/2,5/2, ...units).
Figure 3 illustrates the PSD of each of the three signals
when filtered by a 1 frequency unit baseband low pass
Chebyshev, four pole, 0.1 dB ripple filter. When comparing
Figure 3 to Figure 2, it is seen that the spectral components
beyond 1 frequency unit are greatly suppressed by the filter.
BOC(l/S,l/Z) ,~ ( l ) BOC(zi3,1/3)
,
-- I / / / I
I
/r U
-60
-70 ........................ ~\
-a0/ . . ......
1 -\I.
-1W kluII
7 -1.5 -1
Figure 3 - Spectral density ofNRZ(l), BOC(1/2,1/2) and
BOC(2/3,1/3) modulation types with a 1 unit baseband
Mathematically the PSD of the received BOC(2M,M) signal
can be written [4,5,6] as
where P is the received BOC signal power and TSWis the
period of the squarewave subcarrier. Let n = M/N. A more
general result for the case of BOC(M,N) for the case when
2n is even, and when 2n is odd, is given by
2nodd: S(f)=PT”sinc(fT,,/Z) 2 cos(nnfTS,)’
4n COS(Zfl,, i2)Z
In Figure 2 the power spectral densities of an N R 2 signal
and a BOC signals are shown. It can be seen from this
figure that the peaks of the two PSD’s are not overlapping
as was discussed before.
EQUATIONS
3. CAPACITY
The maximum user capacity in a single signal type CDMA
system can be derived from the following signal energy to
effective noise spectral density equation.
where Eb is the energy per hit, No is the one-sided thermal
noise spectral density, Io is the equivalent noise spectral
density of the interference per user at frequency f = 0, N is
the number of users in the CDMA network, and
(Eb is the required energy to effective noise
density to achieve the required bit error rate (BER).
Actually in equation (3) No should he replaced with vNn,
where v is a number less than 1 due to despreading the
noise. In general v is very close to unity, and will be
ignored in what follows. The left hand side of equation (3)
is known as the effective (EJN,). It is assumed that all the
signals arriving at the receiver have equal average power
( P ) and use either the NRZ or the BOC waveform. We can
write equation (3) in terms of the available E& as follows;
We can solve equation (4) to obtain N as
The first term in the square bracket is typically known as
the link margin. For 0 dB link margin, the first term in the
square bracket is 1 and hence N is equal to 1. If the thermal
noise is very small it can be easily seen from equation (5)
that N is approximately given by
The equivalent noise density due to the interference (In) can
be calculated using the following equation. The self
interference from NRZ to NRZ is denoted as Inh and is
given by [4]
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In equation (7) H~p(f)is the low pass equivalent transfer
function of a filter to account for the transmit and receiver
front end filtering effects, P.SpN_( f ) is the power
spectral density (psd) of the received NRZ signal
SpNu( f ) is the psd of the local reference code signal in
the receiver which is also an NRZ signal in this case, and P
is the average power of the received signal. Similarly the
interference density at zero frequency for the BOC self-
interference and BOC to NRZ or vice versa cross
interference (I;) can he written as follows.
and
For NRZ and BOC signals equation (7) simplifies to
approximately (2/3)(P)/(%) where R, is the code symbol
rate, when the filter is ignored. We can denote the loss of
signal due to the filter as P, for the NRZ signal and P,,
for the BOC signal and they are given by
and
The effective E a o should be greater than equal to the
required E&Vo to meet the hit error rate specified by the
mission. Let N, he the number of NRZ channels and Nbac
be the number of BOC channels. Then N, and Nboc should
satisfy the following two equations simultaneously:
The NRZ effective Eb/No:
The BOC effective E a ois given by
 bandwidth is 200 KHz. The goal is to maximize the number
of users using a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)
method within 200 KHz. Both the data and the spread
spectrum modulation is assumed to be Binary Phase Shift
Keying (BPSK). The front-end filter is assumed to be a 4-
In equations (12) and (13), No is the one-sided thermal noise
pole Butteworth filter with a 3 dB bandwidth equal to 200
power spectral density, Th is the bit period,
KHz (2-sided). It is also assumed that the required EdNo is
Nk, = @,-I) and Nb, = (Nb,-l),and Eb=PTb. Let 7 dB. We consider an NRZ signal at a spread spectrum
the link available margin be adB.Then the available EdNo chipping rate of IOOK chips per second (kcps) or a
in dB’s can be computed from the equation (14). BOC(2/3,1/3) with a code rate of 99 kcps. The filtered NRZ
signal experiences a signal loss equal to 10% and the
filtered BOC signal a loss equal to 20%. Furthermore, the
BOC signal code self-noise is about 0.6 dB higher than for a
NRZ signal.

Using equations (17) and (18) we can compute the

Equation (12) can be rearranged as follows.
This can be further written as,
maximum number of NRZ alone or BOC alone channels by
setting 1; to zero. In Figure 4, the number of NRZ or BOC
channels with only one modulation is plotted as a function
of the available link margin. In both the cases the number of
channels increase with the available margin. The total
number of channels (Total Max.) is not the sum of NRZ
Max. and BOC Max. The “Total Max.” is the sum of each
component as seen in Figure 5. Figure 4 illustrates the fact
that the Total Max. exceeds the individual maxima when
operated with only one modulation type.

Because of the BOC signal experiencing higher code self-

noise and increased signal loss, the maximum number of
NRZ channels exceeds the maximum number of channels
We can solve for Nk, from equation (16) as that can be supported, using a BOC signal. Our interest is to
see bow much improvement in the overall number of
channels can be achieved by combining the two waveforms
to operate in the same bandwidth.

85
Similarly, starting from equation (13) we can solve for I5
Nb,, as shown in equation (18) below. 65
55
45
35
25
The total number of channels is given by NTOlal=
N,,+NhE.
Using equation (17) or (18). we can solve 15
for Nk, or NLc and hence Nroml, which satisfies equations c
J

(12) and (13) simultaneously. For maximum capacity 0 3 6 9 1 2 1 5

(N,+Nb,,) should be maximized. ’ Link Margin in dB
Figure 4 -Number of Channels vs. Link Margin
4. h EXAMPLE
OF IMPROVED CAPAC1l-i
In Figures 4 and 5 the total number of channels, as a
function of the available link margin, is plotted. Also, in
As an example, we consider an application in which the
Figure 5 the number of NRZ and BOC channels comprising
data rate is 400 bits per second (bps) and the available
the total, is also plotted.

1365
 In this section we consider splitting the band into two sub-
bands and using NRZ type signals in each of the two bands.
Splitting the band is done in two ways. In the first kind the
two main lobes of the NRZ psd are non-overlapping and in
the second the two main lobes are overlapping. In both the
cases the maximum number of 400 bps channels that can be
accommodated within 200 KHz of bandwidth, at an
available link margin of 12 dB, is computed and compared
with the results of the section 4. The psds in each case are
plotted in Figures 7 - 12.

.
. . . .. .. .......... ...... . ... ..... .. I
3 6 9 12 15
' Link Margin in dB
Figure 5 - Composition of Total Channels vs. Link
Margin 0"

7 Id -1.Z.Id -4.10' 4-1$ I.2-ld 2.16

At all the margins the total number of channels, by using
both NRZ and BOC waveforms is more than that can he
obtained by using only one type of the waveform. For
example, at a 6 dE3 link margin, the maximum numher of
NRZ channels alone is 50, and BOC alone is 37, and using
both BOC and NRZ the maximum number of channels is
61. This is an improvement of 22% capacity over using
NFU alone. It can also he seen from Figure 4 that the
capacity improvement increases with the available link
margin. In Figure 6, the number of BOC channels, as a
function of the numher of NRZ channels is plotted at
various available link margins (Figure 5). The curve looks
pretty linear, except for a short deviation which may be due
to rounding of the numher of channels calculated using
equations (17) and (18). In each calculation the number of
channels computed was rounded to the nearest integer.
W overall CDMA capacity.
e
m
z
U 25
U
0
Ep 20 ~,
in fi
Frequency
Figure 7 - NRZ and Split-Band NFU (non-overlapping
Main Lobes) PSDs
In the case of full hand NRZ the maximum number of users
that can satisfy the required E a 0 of 7 dB is 64. To satisfy
the same requirement, using split band NRZ with and
without main lobe overlap, the maximum number of
channels are 61 and 67. There is a loss of 3 channels with
split band NRZ without overlap and a gain of 3 channels
with split hand NRZ with overlap. With NRZ and BOC
combination as described in this paper one can
accommodate a total of 82 channels which is clearly well
above the capacity of any of the cases considered. This
translates to an increase of over 30% in CDMA capacity.
The self-interference of NRZ and BOC signals to
themselves and the cross interference between the BOC and
the NFU signals help synergistically each other to boost the
-40
--M ... . ....... ..... .. ... .

c
0
L,
W
a
g 10
2
_I

0 12 24 36 48 60
. Number of NRZ Channels
Figure 8 - NRZ and Split-Band NRZ (non-overlapping
Figure 6 - Number of NRZ Channels vs. Number of BOC Main Lobes) PSDs -Filtered
Channels

5. CAPACITY
OF OTHERSPLITBANDNRZ AND
BOC SIGNALS

1366
 of BOC signals. Figure 13 illustrates the staggered BOC
signal.

Figure 13 - Components of the S-BOCsignal far which M = 2N

-2.16 -1.2.16 -4.16 41104 1.2.16 2.16
Frequency in Hz
Simply offsetting the underlying square wave signal by a
Figure 9 - N E and Split-Band NRZ (overlapping Main quarter of the square wave cycle can generate S-BOC
Lobes) PSDs signals. The power spectral density of S-BOC for the case
that M/N is an integer is given by [ 5 ]

where n = M," and T, is the period of the squarewave, and

f = w'(2n).
-2.10' -1.2-10' -4.10' 4.18 1.2.Io5 2.10'
Frequency in HI
Unfiltered and filtered power spectral densities of S-BOC
Figure 10 - NRZ and Split-Band NRZ (overlapping Main signals are shown in Figures 14-15.
Lobes) PSDs - Filtered

. .... .. .. . . . ..... .. .

0"

-2.16 -1.2.16 -4.1O4 4.104 1.2.16 2.16 Figure 14 - NRZ and S-BOC PSDs (Unfiltered)
Frequency in Hz

Figure 11 - NRZ and BOC PSDs (Unfiltered) Because of the reduced energy in the inner sidelobes of the
S-BOC signal as shown in the Figures 14 and 15, the
interference to and from the NFU signal is reduced as much
as 2.8 dB compared to using the regular BOC signal. Of
I
.*U
-44 course there is some increased signal loss with the S-BOC
and hence some reduction in the self-noise of the S-BOC
signals. The net effect is to increase the total CDMA
capacity to 93 users as opposed to 64 or less users using
NRZ, BOC or S-BOC signals alone. This is an increase of
45% in total CDMA capacity over NRZ only type CDMA
system.
Y"

-2.10' -1.2.10' -4.10~ 4.10~ 1.2.10' 2.10'

Frequency in Hz

Figure 12. NRZ and BOC PSDs (Filtered)

Further increase in the overall CDMA capacity can be

achieved by using staggered BOC (S-BOC) signals instead

1367

%IOs -I.2.105 -4.104 4-104 I.2.105 2.10’
Frequencyin Hz
Figure 15 - NRZ and S-BOC PSDs (Filtered)
6. Conclusions and Further Work
In this paper a new way of improving CDMA capacity is
discussed. Instead of using only one type of waveform,
typically NRZ, it is proposed to use a mix of waveforms,
with different power spectral density shapes to improve the
total number of CDMA channels within a given bandwidth.
The concept of binary offset camer and staggered-BOC
signals is explained. It is also shown in this paper that an
increase of up to 45% in the total CDMA capacity can be
achieved using S-BOC signals in combination with the NRZ
signals. Only BPSK modulation is considered here hut the
concept can be extended to other modulation schemes such
as GMSK. The basic concept to improve efficiency is
shown in this paper, by using two signal types that have as
nearly non-overlapping power spectral densities as possible.
This concept can be extended to more than hvo types of
signals, which need to be studied in more detail.
REFERENCES
[I] J. K. Holmes, “Theoretical Derivation of the Power
Spectral Density of Binary Offset Carrier Signals for use in
the GPS Modernization Effort. Aerospace Corp. TOR-
2000(1590)4, April 2000.
[Z] G . L. Lui and J. K. Holmes, “Power Spectral Density of
General Binary Offset Carrier Signals?, Aerospace
Corporation IOC, Nov. 27,2001.
[3] S . H. Raghavan, “Capacity Improvement of DASS-
SARSAT downlink”, The Aerospace Corporation, February
8,2002.
1368
[4] S . Raghavan and J. K. Holmes, “Frequency Band
Sharing Between NRZ and Split Spectrum Signals-Analysis
and Simulation Results,” 20 th AIAA International
Communication satellite Conference and Exhibit”’ Montreal
Canada, May 12-15,2002,
[SI J. K. Holmes, Unpublished analysis on the power
spectral density for S-BOC waveforms, dated 12/1/03.
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Srini Raghavan h m over 25 years of experience in
design, simulation and analysis of satellite communication
systemss,spread spectrum systems, and signal processing.
Currently he is supporting several communication systems
and GPS-related activities at The Aerospace Corporation
as a Senior Engineering Specialist. Srini has a B.S., and a
M. Tech. in Engineering from India, and M.S. and Ph.D.
degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Universiv of
Missouri, Rolla. He is a senior member of IEEE, member of
ION, Eta Kappa Nu and Sigma Xi.
Dr. Jack K. Holmes is presently at The Aerospace
Corporation in the Communication Systems Subdivision
and holds the title of Distinguished Engineer. He has over
43 years experience in analysis, simulation, and design of
communication systems. He is author of the book entitled
“Coherent Spread Spectrum Systems ” and approximately
45 papers in the area of communications, synchronization,
and GPS-related subjects. He received his B.S., M.S., and
Ph.D. at UCLA in Electrical Engineering, and is a member
of Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Xi.
Kris Maine is a senior Project Engineer and Technical
Manager at The Aerospace Corporation. GPS System
Engineering Program Ofice. She received her BSEE in
1979from the Universify of California, Los Angeles, and
MSEE in 1983 from California State Universify,
Northridge. Ms. Maine is an AIAA Associate Fellow and
has been a Lead System Engineer of various projects for the
Motorola Iridium Program in geolocation, technology
development, satellite crosslink communication, and in
spectrum engineering. Ms. Maine has served as Institute of
Navigation Session Co-chairman in 1992. and has over
nine patents in geolocation.