Performance of IEEE 802.15.4a UWB Systems Under Multi-User Interference

In this paper, we evaluate the performance of impulse radio-ultra wideband (IR-UWB) communications at the physical layer (PHY) level in a multi-user low data rate (LDR) context. Focusing more specifically on the IEEE 802.15.4a standard, this study aims at characterizing and quantifying the potential interference effects resulting from simultaneous competing transmissions. For the sake of simplicity, we deliberately restrict the investigation to a generic coherent Rake receiver in typical illustrating scenarios (in terms of nominal bit rate, pulse repetition period, and channel configuration). On this occasion, we provide original semi-analytical bit error rate (BER) models and simulation results, along with realistic figures for the corresponding tolerated SIR and SNR levels. The derived interference specifications, which properly abstract the IEEE 802.15.4a PHY layer in the presence of MUI, can be considered as relevant inputs for further system, medium access control (MAC), or cross-layer studies.