Reducing Precoder/Channel Mismatch and Enhancing Secrecy in Practical MIMO Systems Using Artificial Signals

Practical multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) systems depend on a predefined set of precoders to provide spatial multiplexing gain. This limitation on the flexibility of the precoders affects the overall performance. Here, we propose a transmission scheme that can reduce the effect of mismatch between users' channels and precoders. The scheme uses the channel knowledge to generate an artificial signal, which realigns the predefined precoder to the actual channel. Moreover, the scheme can provide an additional level of secrecy for the communication link. The performance of the proposed scheme is evaluated using bit-error rate (BER), error vector magnitude (EVM), and secrecy capacity. The results show a significant improvement for the legitimate user, along with a degradation for the eavesdropper.