Multicarrier modulation scheme as well as transmission apparatus and reception apparatus using the scheme

1. A multicarrier modulation method of using a multicarrier modulation scheme satisfying ντ=½, wherein τ represents a symbol transmission interval, and ν represents frequency intervals of a plurality of carriers, the multicarrier modulation method comprising:

generating a multicarrier modulated signal by performing a modulation according to the multicarrier modulation scheme, such that the multicarrier modulated signal includes a phase reference pilot signal and satisfies ντ=½,

wherein the phase reference pilot signal included in the multicarrier modulated signal is a null signal, which is obtained through a modulation performed using an amplitude value that is zero.

2. The multicarrier modulation method according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the phase reference pilot signals are respectively located in a plurality of symbols, which are continuous in a time direction on a predetermined carrier.

3. The multicarrier modulation method according to claim 1 , wherein the phase reference pilot signal is for estimating, at a reception end, a shift of a phase in a transmission path.

4. A multicarrier modulation method of using a multicarrier modulation scheme satisfying ντ=½, wherein τ represents a symbol transmission interval, and ν represents frequency intervals of a plurality of carriers, the multicarrier modulation method comprising:

generating a multicarrier modulated signal by performing a modulation according to the multicarrier modulation scheme, such that the multicarrier modulated signal includes both a phase reference pilot signal and an amplitude reference pilot signal and satisfies ντ=½,

wherein the phase reference pilot signal included in the multicarrier modulated signal is a null signal, which is obtained through a modulation performed using an amplitude value that is zero, and

wherein the amplitude reference pilot signal included in the multicarrier modulated signal is obtained through a modulation performed by using an amplitude value known to a reception end.

5. The multicarrier modulation method according to claim 4 , wherein the phase reference pilot signal and the amplitude reference pilot signal are alternately located at every other symbol over a plurality of symbols which are continuous in a time direction on a predetermined carrier.

6. The multicarrier modulation method according to claim 4 , wherein the phase reference pilot signal and the amplitude reference pilot signal are alternately located at every other carrier over a plurality of carriers which are continuous in a frequency direction in a predetermined symbol.

7. The multicarrier modulation method according to claim 4 , wherein the phase reference pilot signal and the amplitude reference pilot signal are alternately located at every other carrier in a frequency direction, and are alternately located at every other symbol in a time direction.

8. The multicarrier modulation method according to claim 4 , wherein the phase reference pilot signal is for estimating, at the reception end, a shift of a phase in a transmission path.

9. A transmission apparatus for generating a multicarrier modulated signal according to a multicarrier modulation scheme satisfying ντ=½, wherein τ represents a symbol transmission interval, and ν represents frequency intervals of a plurality of carriers, and for transmitting the multicarrier modulated signal, the transmission apparatus comprising:

frame generation means for receiving transmission data, and for generating a frame signal including an amplitude value for generating a data transmission signal based on the transmission data, and including an amplitude value of zero for generating a phase reference pilot signal; and

multicarrier modulation means for generating the multicarrier modulated signal by performing a modulation according to the multicarrier modulation scheme, the multicarrier modulated signal being generated using amplitude value information included in the frame signal.

10. The transmission apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the phase reference pilot signal is for estimating, at a reception end, a shift of a phase in a transmission path.

11. A transmission apparatus for generating a multicarrier modulated signal according to a multicarrier modulation scheme satisfying ντ=½, wherein τ represents a symbol transmission interval, and ν represents frequency intervals of a plurality of carriers, and for transmitting the multicarrier modulated signal, the transmission apparatus comprising:

frame generation means for receiving transmission data, and for generating a frame signal including an amplitude value for generating a data transmission signal based on the transmission data, including an amplitude value of zero for generating a phase reference pilot signal, and including an amplitude value, known to a reception end, for generating an amplitude reference pilot signal; and

multicarrier modulation means for generating the multicarrier modulated signal by performing a modulation according to the multicarrier modulation scheme, the multicarrier modulated signal being generated using amplitude value information included in the frame signal.

12. The transmission apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the phase reference pilot signal is for estimating, at the reception end, a shift of a phase in a transmission path.

13. A reception apparatus for receiving and demodulating a multicarrier modulated signal generated according to a multicarrier modulation scheme satisfying ντ=½, wherein τ represents a symbol transmission interval, and ν represents frequency intervals of a plurality of carriers,

wherein the multicarrier modulated signal includes a phase reference pilot signal, which is a null signal obtained through a modulation performed by using an amplitude value that is zero, and

wherein the reception apparatus comprises:

multicarrier demodulation means for demodulating the received multicarrier modulated signal so as to generate a demodulation vector, and for outputting the demodulation vector; and

equalization means for receiving the demodulation vector, and for estimating a shift of a phase of the demodulation vector in accordance with the phase reference pilot signal, so as to compensate the phase.

14. The reception apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the equalization means includes:

phase estimation means for extracting the phase reference pilot signal included in the demodulation vector, and for estimating the shift of the phase of the demodulation vector; and

phase compensation means for compensating the phase of the demodulation vector in accordance with the shift of the phase estimated by the phase estimation means.

15. A reception apparatus for receiving and demodulating a multicarrier modulated signal generated by performing a modulation according to a multicarrier modulation scheme satisfying ντ=½, wherein τ represents a symbol transmission interval, and ν represents frequency intervals of a plurality of carriers,

wherein the multicarrier modulated signal includes a phase reference pilot signal, which is a null signal obtained through a modulation performed using an amplitude value that is zero, and includes an amplitude reference pilot signal obtained through a modulation performed using an amplitude known to a reception end, and

wherein the reception apparatus comprises:

multicarrier demodulation means for demodulating the received multicarrier modulated signal so as to generate a demodulation vector, and for outputting the demodulation vector; and

equalization means for receiving the demodulation vector, for estimating a shift of a phase of the demodulation vector using the phase reference pilot signal, so as to compensate the phase, and for estimating a difference of an amplitude of the demodulation vector using the amplitude reference pilot signal, so as to compensate the amplitude.

16. The reception apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the equalization means includes:

phase estimation means for extracting the phase reference pilot signal included in the demodulation vector, and for estimating the shift of the phase of the demodulation vector;

phase compensation means for compensating the phase of the demodulation vector in accordance with the shift of the phase estimated by the phase estimation means;

amplitude estimation means for extracting the amplitude reference pilot signal included in the demodulation vector which is phase-compensated and is outputted by the phase compensation means, and for estimating a difference of an amplitude of the phase-compensated demodulation vector; and

amplitude compensation means for compensating, in accordance with the difference of the amplitude estimated by the amplitude estimation means, the amplitude of the demodulation vector which is phase-compensated and is outputted by the phase compensation means.

17. The reception apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the equalization means includes:

phase estimation means for extracting the phase reference pilot signal included in the demodulation vector, and for estimating the shift of the phase of the demodulation vector;

phase compensation means for compensating the phase of the demodulation vector in accordance with the shift of the phase estimated by the phase estimation means;

amplitude estimation means for extracting the amplitude reference pilot signal included in the demodulation vector which is phase-compensated and is outputted by the phase compensation means, and for estimating a difference of an amplitude of the phase-compensated demodulation vector; and

compensation means for compensating, in accordance with the shift of the phase estimated by the phase estimation means and the difference of the amplitude estimated by the amplitude estimation means, the phase and an amplitude of the demodulation vector.