MC-CDMA/VSF for the downlink physical layer in next generation wireless local area networks

Abstract

In this paper, a new physical layer for the downlink in future generation wireless local area networks (WLANs), operating in the ISM band, and based on multi-carrier CDMA (MC-CDMA) is proposed. Taking advantage of the CDMA properties, this physical layer aims to provide service simultaneously to several users with different data rate needs. Orthogonal variable spreading factor (OVSF) codes are employed in order to support the simultaneous coexistence of different data rate users. In addition, the bit error rate (BER) performance of the system is analyzed for different combination techniques when single-user detection is employed in a frequency selective slow fading Rician channel. According to the results presented in this paper, this proposal is a promising option for WLANs.