Trellis-coded CPM for wireless communications

A coded modulation scheme based on trellis codes combined with continuous-phase modulated (CPM) signals is considered. Trellis-coded CPM (TCCPM) is a coded modulation technique for the transmission of digital information over bandwidth- and power-limited channels such as satellite-based terrestrial radio links (MSAT). While trellis codes provide power efficiency, the choice of CPM yields constant-envelope signals with good spectral properties. The complexity associated with optimum detection is resolved by using differential symbol-by-symbol detection. The performance of this suboptimum scheme is assessed by simulation. Comparisons with other competing signals, e.g., trellis-coded 8 DPSK, show TCCPM signals to be attractive for a wide class of wireless communications systems