Application of Time-Frequency Analysis to Finite Duration Communication Signals

In this paper, an evaluation of time-frequency analysis techniques is presented as applied to the detection of finite duration communication signals. This class of signals includes both phase and amplitude modulated, pulsed signals. Time-frequency analysis based on quadratic distributions are of particular importance in analyzing these signals since this class covers the most common types of time-frequency analysis techniques. Typical performance criteria used in the design of time-frequency distributions include high frequency resolution as well as suppression of cross modulation products that are present in a multi-component signal environment. In addition to these criteria, we are also interested in the time resolution properties of these algorithms. The ultimate goal of this work is to determine the best time-frequency algorithms for a given application based on both performance and computational considerations