Multi-user signal detection using sequential decoding

The authors consider the application of sequential decoding to the detection of data transmitted on an additive white Gaussian noise channel by K asynchronous transmitters using direct-sequence spread-spectrum multiple-access (DS/SSMA). They described a modification of R.M. Fano´s (1963) sequential decoding metric, and evaluate by computer simulation the performance of a sequential decoder that uses this modified metric in conjunction with the stack algorithm. It is concluded that, in many circumstances, the sequential decoder achieves results comparable to those obtained using the much more complicated optimal receiver. It is concluded that the decoder considered would appear to offer an attractive tradeoff between complexity and performance in many cases of interest.<>