Fast simulation of DS/CDMA with and without coding in multipath fading channels

Code-division multiple access (CDMA) has found widespread applications in various applications such as advanced wireless technologies and digital cellular communications. We consider the error-rate performance of asynchronous direct-sequence CDMA in a wireless radio communications environment that is characterized by Rayleigh multipath fading channels. Because of the system complexity, the performance of CDMA systems in such an environment is difficult to assess analytically. Monte Carlo simulations can offer an alternative performance evaluation tool. Unfortunately, in practice, such an alternative is often limited by an excessive computational burden. Importance sampling is a variance reduction technique which can significantly reduce the computational cost required by Monte Carlo simulations. This paper describes the basic principles behind this powerful technique. In particular, it illustrates its use as a computationally efficient and accurate tool for computer-aided design and analysis of uncoded as well as coded CDMA in wireless communications.