Chip-level differential encoding/detection of spread-spectrum signals for CDMA radio transmission over fading channels

This paper is concerned with the design and performance evaluation of a direct-sequence spread-spectrum transmission and signal-detection technique for application to code-division multiple-access mobile radio networks. Unlike the conventional differential encoding/detection of data symbols, such a technique envisages differential encoding/detection of the spreading code chips to counteract the fast time-selective fading encountered in mobile radio transmissions. Binary PSK modulation on a Rician frequency-flat-fading channel is assumed, with Gaussian and Rayleigh channels as particular cases. The bit-error rate performance of the receiver is analytically evaluated as a function of the relevant system parameters, and the impact on the receiver performance of a carrier frequency offset is also investigated.