Precise Leading Edge Detection using a Forward Error Correction Coding

This paper presents a precise leading edge detection using a forward error correction (FEC) coding, for providing accurate ranging results in multipath fading channels. Highly dispersive nature of ultra-wideband (UWB) channels make time-of-arrival (TOA) estimation extremely challenging, where the leading-edge path is not necessarily the strongest path (peak path). In this paper, we consider a leading edge detection of the received signal by using a forward error correction (FEC) coding. In this detection, a transmitted bit sequence is a codeword of an FEC coding, and the receiver enjoys its coding gain to detect the leading-edge path, which may not be the strongest path. Its performance is evaluated by computer simulations using IEEE.802.15.4a channel models.