Index Modulation for OFDM Communications Systems

Thanks to their considerable advantages, index modulation and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) are considered to be promising candidates for future wireless communications. This book focuses on the index modulation techniques for OFDM communications systems, which allow information to be conveyed not only via constellation symbols, but also by the indices of various transmission entities in OFDM systems, such as signal constellations, spreading codes, and pilots. The book discusses representative transmitter and receiver designs, optimization and performance analysis of index modulation based on various transmission entities. It first introduces readers to constellation-based index modulation via a combinatorial approach, including the classical index modulation scheme and two embodiments of information-guided precoding for OFDM systems. It further discusses constellation-based index modulation via a permutational approach, including the basic, generalized, and diversity-enhancing forms. It then describes how the spreading code is used to design an index modulated spread spectrum for OFDM systems, and the extensions to multi-code and multi-user scenarios. In addition it explores information guided pilot insertion for OFDM systems, followed by applications to carrier phase tracking and channel estimation. Lastly, the book highlights a number of open problems and discusses future research directions in the general field of index modulation. Intended for professionals and researchers in the field of wireless communications, this book is also a valuable resource for advanced-level electrical engineering and computer science students.