Performance evaluation of OFDM based wireless communication systems using Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) based high performance computing

Abstract

Wireless communication is one of the fastest developing technologies of current decade. Achieving high data rate under constrained condition demand sophisticated signal processing algorithms which in turn demand complex computational processing. Modern wireless communication techniques using OFDM demand substantial computational resources for implementation. An OFDM system with 2048 subcarriers typically requires a 2048 point IFFT for transmission and 2048 point FFT for reception. When signal processing techniques like PAPR, pre-equalization, equalization, pilot carrier insertion are implemented, the complexity increases considerably. This large complexity demands use of high performance computing systems for efficient implementation. This primary aim of this project was to take up this investigation. Rapid growth in computing and communications technology has led to the proliferation of powerful parallel and distributed computing paradigm leading to innovation in high performance computing and communications (HPCC). In this project, the performance of advanced wireless communication algorithms on Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) based high performance computing hardware has been evaluated. The computationally expensive multi-carrier wireless communication systems along with associated signal processing techniques have been implemented on GPU with an aim to reduce computation time. This project proposes the use of GPU architecture for efficient implementation of Long Term Evolution (LTE) Physical Layer, Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) OFDM system and Partial Transmit sequence (PTS) technique for Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR) reduction in OFDM system. The implementation of this new method is expected to provide promising ways to implement complex wireless communication systems using GPU based computing hardware.