Novel low-complexity transceiver design for UFMC system with two-stage filtering

Waveform design plays a crucial role in ensuring the seamless operation of next generation wireless networks. Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)-based waveforms are still in the interest and remain a viable candidate for the physical layer of the sixth-generation (6G) networks. Universal filter multicarrier (UFMC) waveform, a variant of OFDM, exhibits several advantages over traditional OFDM, particularly in terms of reduced spectral leakage and increased spectral efficiency. However, it comes with a higher computational complexity compared to the OFDM system, particularly during the subband-wise convolution phase at the IFFT outputs. Therefore, to alleviate some of the complexity challenges in practical applications, it is essential to redesign the algorithms at both the transmitter and receiver sides. In this paper, we propose an architecture for the UFMC transmitter by incorporating a two-stage convolutional filtering approach at the transmitter side to reduce complexity. Through numerical analyses, we demonstrate a significant reduction in complexity-over 80% fewer multiplications — while also achieving a slight improvement in bit error rate (BER) performance compared to the conventional scheme. This proposed architecture presents a promising solution to tackle the complexity challenges encountered in UFMC systems, making them more viable for practical implementation in various communication environments.