Generalized frequency division multiplexing with space and frequency index modulation

Generalized frequency division multiplexing (GFDM) has been regarded as one of the promising candidates for the physical layer (PHY) of fifth generation (5G) wireless networks. Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) friendliness is a key ability for a physical layer scheme to match the foreseen requirements of 5G wireless networks. On the other hand, index modulation (IM) concept, which relies on conveying additional information bits through indices of certain transmit entities, is an emerging technique to provide better spectral efficiency. In this paper, a novel MIMO-GFDM system, which combines GFDM with space and frequency IM (SFIM) technique, is proposed. In the GFDM-SFIM scheme, the transmit antenna, the constellation mode and the classic constellation symbols are determined according to incoming bit stream. The main contribution of the paper is the construction of the GFDM-SFIM system model including joint MIMO detection and GFDM demodulation performed by the GFDM-SFIM receiver. We evaluate the error performance of the GFDM-SFIM scheme as well as prove its superiority by making comparisons with the spatial modulation (SM) GFDM system and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) SFIM system for Rayleigh multipath fading channels.