Low Correlation Sequences over the QAM Constellation

TL;DR

This paper explores low correlation sequence families over QAM constellations for CDMA, presenting five constructions that enable higher data rates and variable signaling, with some sequences achieving optimal correlation bounds.

Contribution

It introduces new low correlation sequence families over QAM, detailing their construction, properties, and potential for increased data transmission in CDMA systems.

Findings

Family CQ has correlation parameter A ranging from 1.8 to 3.0.

Sequence families support 2m to 3m bits per period.

Family IP achieves the Welch lower bound on correlation.

Abstract

This paper presents the first concerted look at low correlation sequence families over QAM constellations of size M^2=4^m and their potential applicability as spreading sequences in a CDMA setting. Five constructions are presented, and it is shown how such sequence families have the ability to transport a larger amount of data as well as enable variable-rate signalling on the reverse link. Canonical family CQ has period N, normalized maximum-correlation parameter theta_max bounded above by A sqrt(N), where 'A' ranges from 1.8 in the 16-QAM case to 3.0 for large M. In a CDMA setting, each user is enabled to transfer 2m bits of data per period of the spreading sequence which can be increased to 3m bits of data by halving the size of the sequence family. The technique used to construct CQ is easily extended to produce larger sequence families and an example is provided. Selected family SQ has a lower value of theta_max but permits only (m+1)-bit data modulation. The interleaved 16-QAM sequence family IQ has theta_max <= sqrt(2) sqrt(N) and supports 3-bit data modulation. The remaining two families are over a quadrature-PAM (Q-PAM) subset of size 2M of the M^2-QAM constellation. Family P has a lower value of theta_max in comparison with Family SQ, while still permitting (m+1)-bit data modulation. Interleaved family IP, over the 8-ary Q-PAM constellation, permits 3-bit data modulation and interestingly, achieves the Welch lower bound on theta_max.