Filter bank based multi-mode multiple access scheme for wireless uplink

This paper investigates the potential of filter bank (FB) processing in the context of uplink multi-user access. First, a FB based scheme, conceptually similar to the single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) developed by 3GPP for uplink in the Long Term Evolution of UMTS, is analyzed. Specifically, a method for synthesizing spectrally well-localized uplink waveforms with low peak-to-average power ratio, using FB based multicarrier (FBMC) modulation in combination with FB spreading, is introduced. Secondly, the superior frequency selectivity of the FB approach, when combined with frequency sampling -designed subchannel/subband processing, is found to enable flexible and bandwidth efficient multi-mode uplink transmission with relaxed constraints on inter-user timing synchronization. The proposed concept allows different mobile terminals to operate in the reverse link simultaneously in multicarrier, SC-FDMA, or conventional single carrier mode according to attributes such as the required transmission power.