Sparse Vector Coding for Short-Packet Transmission on Industrial Communications: Reference Architecture and Design Challenges
Authors: AIñigo Bilbao; Lorenzo Fanari; Eneko Iradier; Pablo Angueira and Jon Montalban
Extended Abstract:
Reliable, fast, and deterministic communications are fundamental for future industrial wireless systems. This goal requires multiple cooperating technologies pertaining to different communication areas. The waveform and coding technique choices are critical to match industrial use cases’ reliability and latency requirements. Specifically, this paper contributes to channel coding in wireless fieldbus links. Classical block coding schemes were designed to maximize information bitrates without stringent latency requirements. Their performance in applications that use short messages degrades significantly. Recently, Sparse Vector Coding (SVC) has been proposed as a coding approach suitable for short packet communications with moderate complexity and low processing latency. SVCs rely on Compressive Sensing (CS) to code and decode the information in a reliable and optimized manner.
This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of sparse vector coding and a reference communications framework for its implementation on a wireless system. In addition, the mathematical basis of the CS is described and linked to a practical communications system. On the other hand, a set of simulations is also designed to establish the cross-correlation between the different parameters involved in the code design. As a result, the coding matrix has been identified as a critical parameter that can improve coding performance. A detailed analysis of the matrix’s importance is further carried out. Finally, this work includes two new procedures for determining the matrix that could lead to a gain of up to 2dB concerning the current state of the art.
