A preamble-based cell searching technique for OFDM cellular systems

In this paper, a novel preamble structure, including a synchronization field (S-field) and a cell searching field (C-field), is proposed. An efficient algorithm for downlink synchronization and cell searching using the preamble is also proposed. The synchronization process includes initial symbol timing estimation using continuously or at least periodically transmitted downlink signal, frame detection, fine symbol timing estimation and frequency offset estimation using the preamble S-field, and cell identification using the preamble C-field. From the simulation results, it is shown that the proposed preamble and cell searching algorithm works well even in bad cellular environment.