Timing and Carrier Synchronization in Wireless Communication Systems: A Survey and Classification of Research in the Last Five Years

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent research from 2010-2014 on timing and carrier synchronization techniques across various wireless communication systems, highlighting challenges, solutions, and future directions.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive classification and analysis of recent synchronization methods for diverse wireless systems, emphasizing system assumptions and limitations.

Findings

Survey of 2010-2014 research on synchronization techniques

Classification of methods based on system models and challenges

Identification of future research directions

Abstract

Timing and carrier synchronization is a fundamental requirement for any wireless communication system to work properly. Timing synchronization is the process by which a receiver node determines the correct instants of time at which to sample the incoming signal. Carrier synchronization is the process by which a receiver adapts the frequency and phase of its local carrier oscillator with those of the received signal. In this paper, we survey the literature over the last five years (2010-2014) and present a comprehensive literature review and classification of the recent research progress in achieving timing and carrier synchronization in single-input-single-output (SISO), multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO), cooperative relaying, and multiuser/multicell interference networks. Considering both single-carrier and multi-carrier communication systems, we survey and categorise the timing and carrier synchronization techniques proposed for the different communication systems focusing on the system model assumptions for synchronization, the synchronization challenges, and the state-of-the-art synchronization solutions and their limitations. Finally, we envision some future research directions.