Digital modulation classification using multi-layer perceptron and time-frequency features

Abstract Considering that real communication signals corrupted by noise are generally nonstationary, and timefrequency distributions are especially suitable for the analysis of nonstationary signals, time-frequency distributions are introduced for the modulation classification of communication signals. The extracted time-frequency features have good classification information, and they are insensitive to signal to noise ratio (SNR) variation. According to good classification by the correct rate of a neural network classifier, a multilayer perceptron (MLP) classifier with better generalization, as well as, addition of time-frequency features set for classifying six difierent modulation types has been proposed. Computer simulations show that the MLP classifier outperforms the decision-theoretic classifier at low SNRs, and the classification experiments for real MPSK signals verify engineering significance of the MLP classifier.