A Distributed Beam-Forming Algorithm for Single Frequency Networks Supporting Broadcast and Multicast Applications

Single frequency networks (SFN) in combination with a multi-carrier transmission scheme such as OFDM are often proposed as a means to provide continuous coverage of broadcast applications over a large area. In this paper, we propose a distributed beam-forming algorithm that makes use of channel state information fed back by receivers to improve the performance of the weaker connections. The distributed nature of the proposed algorithm makes it easier to implement when compared to its centralized counterparts. Simulation studies show that the proposed algorithm results in a significant improvement in the performance of SFNs supporting broadcast or multicast applications.