Spatially Correlated Multi-User Channels: LOS vs. NLOS

A novel approach for modeling multi-user channels is proposed for the first time. This technique enables the investigation of the received signal correlation across the channel of multiple users for both line-of-sight (LOS) and non-LOS (NLOS) scenarios. The scatterers are modeled as random rough surfaces. Such rough surfaces scatter the incident wave into various directions. The signals scattered from the same part of a rough surface have maintained a correlation across users. This paper derives the cross-user correlation based on Kirchhoff theory, and investigates the impact of LOS versus NLOS. It is depicted that LOS signals have drastically boosted the correlation. This property can be incorporated in order to discriminate LOS signals from NLOS. It is found that the proposed study impacts the performance and capacity analysis of wireless ad-hoc/sensor networks.