On Media-based Modulation using RF Mirrors

TL;DR

This paper explores enhancements to media-based modulation (MBM) using RF mirrors by integrating spatial modulation, pattern selection, and phase techniques, demonstrating improved performance and diversity in wireless communication systems.

Contribution

It introduces and evaluates novel physical layer techniques for MBM, including spatial modulation, pattern selection, and phase compensation, showing their benefits over traditional methods.

Findings

GSM-MBM outperforms MIMO-MBM at the same spectral efficiency.

ED-based mirror activation pattern selection improves bit error rate.

Phase compensation and constellation rotation significantly enhance performance.

Abstract

Media-based modulation (MBM) is a recently proposed modulation scheme which uses radio frequency (RF) mirrors at the transmit antenna(s) in order to create different channel fade realizations based on their ON/OFF status. These complex fade realizations constitute the modulation alphabet. MBM has the advantage of increased spectral efficiency and performance. In this paper, we investigate the performance of some physical layer techniques when applied to MBM. Particularly, we study the performance of $i)$ MBM with generalized spatial modulation (GSM), $ii)$ MBM with mirror activation pattern (MAP) selection based on an Euclidean distance (ED) based metric, and $iii)$ MBM with feedback based phase compensation and constellation rotation. Our results show that, for the same spectral efficiency, GSM-MBM can achieve better performance compared to MIMO-MBM. Also, it is found that MBM with ED-based MAP selection results in improved bit error performance, and that phase compensation and MBM constellation rotation increases the ED between the MBM constellation points and improves the performance significantly. We also analyze the diversity orders achieved by the ED-based MAP selection scheme and the phase compensation and constellation rotation (PC-CR) scheme. The diversity orders predicted by the analysis are validated through simulations.