xvi PREFACE
on employing alternative representations of classic functions arising in the error
probability analysis of digital communication systems (e.g., the Gaussian Q-
function
1
and the Marcum Q-function) in such a manner that the resulting
expressions for average bit or symbol error rate are in a form that is rarely more
complicated than a single integral with finite limits and an integrand composed of
elementary (e.g., exponential and trigonometric) functions. By virtue of replacing
the conventional forms of the above-mentioned functions by their alternative
representations, the integrand will contain the moment generating function (MGF)
of the instantaneous fading signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and as such, the unified
approach is referred to as the MGF-based approach.
In dealing with application of the MGF-based approach, the coverage in
this book is extremely broad, in that coherent, differentially coherent, partially
coherent and noncoherent communication systems are all handled, as well as
a large variety of fading channel models typical of communication links of
practical interest. Both single- and multichannel reception are discussed, and
in the case of the latter, a large variety of diversity types are considered. For
each combination of communication (modulation/detection) type, channel fading
model, and diversity type, the average bit error rate (BER) and/or symbol error
rate (SER) of the system is obtained and represented by an expression that is in
a form that can readily be evaluated.
2
All cases considered correspond to real
practical channels, and in many instances the BER and SER expressions obtained
can be evaluated numerically on a hand-held calculator.
In accomplishing the purpose set forth by the discussion above, the book
focuses on developing a compendium of results that to a large extent are not
readily available in standard textbooks on digital communications. Although
some of these results can be found in the myriad of contributions that have
been reported in the technical journal and conference literature, others are new
and as yet unpublished. Indeed, aside from the fact that a significant number
of the reference citations in this book are from 1999 publications, many others
refer to papers that will appear in print in the new millennium. Whether or
not published previously, the value of the results found in this book is that
they are all colocated in a single publication with unified notation and, most
important, a unified presentation framework that lends itself to simplicity of
numerical evaluation. In writing this book, our intent was to spend as little space
as possible duplicating material dealing with basic digital communication theory
and system performance evaluation, which is well documented in many fine
textbooks on the subject. Rather, this book serves to advance the material found
in these books and so is of most value to those desiring to extend their knowledge
1
The Gaussian Q-function has a one-to-one mapping with the complementary error function erfc x
[i.e., Qx D
1
2
erfcx/
p
2] commonly found in standard mathematical tabulations. In much of the
engineering literature, however, the two functions are used interchangeably and as a matter of
convenience we shall do the same in this text.
2
The terms bit error probability (BEP) and symbol error probability (SEP) are quite often used as
alternatives to bit error rate (BER) and symbol error rate (SER). With no loss in generality, we shall
employ both usages in this book.