The analysis of timing metrics for synchronisation purposes in OFDM systems

In joint timing and carrier o®set estimation algorithms for Time Division Duple- xing (TDD) OFDM systems, di®erent timing metrics are proposed to determine the beginning of a burst or symbol. In this contribution we present the di®erent timing metrics. Generally speaking, analysis is done by Monte-Carlo simula- tion. However in [1] an analytical analysis method was proposed that we used to compare the found timing metrics [2], [3]. In order to overcome °aws of this analytical approach a new one is proposed in which detection probability, false alarm rate, position error distribution can be computed in an uni¯ed fashion. In the new framework joint probability density functions (pdfs) need to be established which make it more involved than the previously used one. However there is a straightforward correspondence to a simulation based approach. By assuming an independent timing-metric process, the new framework can be compared to the old approach. It is not at all obvious how the results of the old approach must be interpreted in the light of the new framework.