Background

Jim Cavers received the B.A.Sc. degree in Engineering Physics and the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of British Columbia, Canada, in 1966 and 1970, respectively.

From 1970 to 1979 he was an Assistant, then Associate, Professor in the Department of Systems Engineering at Carleton University in Ottawa. He spent 1979 to 1982 as a Program Manager at MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates, in Vancouver, followed by a year as Senior Engineer at Glenayre Electronics, also in Vancouver.

In 1983 he joined the School of Engineering Science at Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, where he held the rank of Professor until his retirement in 2008. From 1990 to 1994, he was Director of the School. His research interests include signal detection for mobile communications and integrated RF/DSP design.

He has published many well-known journal and conference papers and one book and holds twelve patents. He has received several national and provincial awards for innovative and commercially successful research. Prof. Cavers is a Fellow of the IEEE and an Adjunct Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Canterbury.

Research interests

Mobile and personal communications at the physical and data link layers: adaptive antenna arrays; integrated DSP/RF design for new transceiver architectures; linearization of RF amplifiers; coding, modulation and protocols.

Projects in recent years have included: adaptive feedforward linearization and adaptive digital predistortion for the power amplifiers used in PCS radio transceivers; adaptive antenna arrays for increasing system capacity and for locating mobiles; use of diversity for synchronization in fading channels; multiuser detection of cochannel signal

• 2002 IEEE Fellow "for contributions to the theory and practice of digital transmission over wireless channels" 
• 2001 Canada Research Chair in wireless communication 
• 2000 R.A. McLachlan Memorial Award, Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of B.C. 
• 1998 Principal Innovation Award, E.C. Manning Foundation 
• 1995 Gold Medal in Engineering and Applied Science, Science Council of British Columbia 
• 1992 Communications Research Award, Telecom Canada 
• 1988 Fellow, BC Advanced Systems Institute

Selected publications

• B.W. Zarikoff and J.K. Cavers,”Coordinated Multi-Cell Systems: Carrier Frequency Offset Estimation and Correction,” accepted by IEEE J. Sel. Areas Commun., June 2010.
• S. Muhaidat, J.K. Cavers and P. Ho, “Transparent Amplify-and-Forward Relaying in MIMO Relay Channels,” accepted by IEEE Trans. Wireless Commun., April 2010 
• S.-H. Kuo and J.K. Cavers, “Energy Optimal Scheduler for Diversity Fading Channels with Maximum Delay Constraint,” IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 8, no. 11, pp. 5520-5529, November 2009.
• S. Bavarian and J.K. Cavers, “A New Framework for Soft Decision Equalization in Frequency Selective MIMO Channels,” IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 57, no. 2, pp. 415-422, February 2009.
• B.W. Zarikoff and J.K. Cavers, “Multiple Frequency Offset Estimation for the Downlink of Coordinated MIMO Systems,” IEEE J. Selected Areas in Commun., vol. 26, no. 6, pp. 901-912, August, 2008.
• S. Bavarian and J.K. Cavers, “Reduced-Complexity Belief Propagation for System-Wide MUD in the Uplink of Cellular Networks,” IEEE J. Sel. Areas Commun., vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 541-549, April 2008.
• S. Karimifar and J.K. Cavers, “Achieving High Capacity Narrowband Cellular Systems by Means of Multicell Multiuser Detection,” IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol., vol. 57, no. 2, pp. 945-953, March 2008.
• J.K. Cavers and Paul Ho, "Switching Rate and Dwell Time in M-of-N Selection Diversity," IEEE Trans. Wireless Commun., vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 1218-1223, April 2007.
• B.W. Zarikoff, J.K. Cavers and Sara Bavarian, “An Iterative Groupwise Multiuser Detector for Overloaded MIMO Applications,” IEEE Trans. Wireless Commun., vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 443-447, March 2007.
• J.K. Cavers, “Space-Time Coding Using MSK,” IEEE Trans. Wireless Commun., vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 185-191, January 2005.
• S.J. Grant and J.K. Cavers, “System-wide capacity increase for narrowband cellular systems through multiuser detection and base station diversity arrays,” IEEE Trans. Wireless Commun., vol. 3, no. 6, pp. 2072-2082, November 2004.
• L.R. Welburn, J.K. Cavers and K.W. Sowerby, “A Computational Paradigm for Space-Time Multiuser Detection,” IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 52, no. 9, pp. 1595-1604, September 2004.
• L.R. Welburn, J.K. Cavers and K.W. Sowerby, “Multiuser Macrodiversity Detection in Asynchronous DS-CDMA Systems,” IEEE Trans.Wireless Commun., vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 544-554, March 2004.
• S.J. Grant and J.K. Cavers, “A Method for Increasing Downlink Capacity by Coded Multiuser Transmission with a Base Station Antenna Array,” IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 51, no. 5, pp. 832-840, May 2003.
• L.R. Welburn, J.K. Cavers and K.W. Sowerby, “Accurate Error Rate Calculations Through the Inversion of Mixed Characteristic Functions,” IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 51, no. 5, pp. 719-721, May 2003.
• S.J. Grant and J.K. Cavers, “Multiuser Channel Estimation for Detection of Cochannel Signals,” IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 49, no. 10, pp. 1845 -1855, October 2001.
• S.J. Grant and J.K. Cavers, “Further Analytical Results on the Joint Detection of Cochannel Signals Using Diversity Arrays”, IEEE Trans. Commun.,vol. 48, no. 11, pp. 1788-1792, November 2000.
• J.K. Cavers, “Single User and Multiuser Adaptive Maximal Ratio Transmission for Rayleigh Channels”, IEEE Trans. Vehic. Technol., vol. 49, no. 6, November 2000.
• S.J. Grant and J.K. Cavers, "Multiuser Channel Estimation for Detection of Cochannel Signals," IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 49, no. 10, pp. 1845-1855, October 2001. 
• S.J. Grant and J.K. Cavers, "A Method for Increasing Downlink Capacity by Coded Multiuser Transmission With a Base Station Diversity Array," IEEE Globecom, San Antonio, November, 2001. 
• L.R. Welburn and J.K. Cavers, "The Conditional Metric Merge Algorithm for Maximum Likelihood Multiuser-Macrodiversity Detection," IEEE Globecom, San Antonio, November, 2001. 
• L.R. Welburn and J.K. Cavers, "The Conditional Metric Merge Algorithm for Maximum Likelihood Multiuser-Macrodiversity Detection," IEEE Globecom, San Antonio, November, 2001. 
• J.K. Cavers, "Single User and Multiuser Adaptive Maximal Ratio Transmission for Rayleigh Channels", IEEE Trans. Vehic. Technol., vol. 49, no. 6, November 2000. 
• J.K. Cavers, Mobile Channel Characteristics, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2000. 
• S.J. Grant and J.K. Cavers, "Further Analytical Results on the Joint Detection of Cochannel Signals Using Diversity Arrays", IEEE Trans. Commun.,vol. 48, no. 11, pp. 1788-1792, November 2000. 
• J. Wang and J.K. Cavers, "Blind Joint Detection of Cochannel CPFSK Signals Over Rayleigh Flat-Fading Channels with a Diversity Antenna Array", Proc. IEEE Veh. Technol. Conf., Spring, Tokyo, May 2000. 
• L.R. Welburn, J.K. Cavers and K.W. Sowerby, "Multiuser-Macrodiversity Detection in Rayleigh Fading Channels", Proc. IEEE Veh. Technol. Conf., Fall., Boston, September 2000. 
• J. Wang and J.K. Cavers, "Subspace-Based Blind Joint Detection of Fading, Asynchronous Cochannel TDMA Signals", Proc. IEEE Veh. Technol. Conf., Fall., Boston, September 2000. 
• J.K. Cavers, "Optimum Table Spacing in Predistorting Amplifier Linearizers", IEEE Trans Veh Technol, vol. 48, no. 5, pp. 1699-1704, September, 1999. 
• J.K. Cavers, " Multiuser Transmitter Diversity Through Adaptive Downlink Beamforming", IEEE Wireless Commun. and Netw. Conf., New Orleans, September, 1999. 
• Z. Zhao, S. Stapleton and J. Cavers, " Analysis of Polarization Diversity Scheme with Channel Coding", IEEE Veh Technol Conf, Amsterdam, September 1999. 
• S.J. Grant and J.K. Cavers, " Analytical calculation of average symbol error rate for a general cellular mobile radio system" in Proc. IEEE Veh. Technol. Conf. (Fall), Amsterdam, September 1999. 
• S.J. Grant and J.K. Cavers, " Increased uplink capacity for TDMA systems through joint detection with diversity arrays", Proc. IEEE Veh. Technol. Conf. (Fall), Amsterdam, September 1999. 
• L.R. Welburn, J.K. Cavers and K.W. Sowerby, " Optimizing the Downlink Power of Macrodiversity Antennas in an Indoor DS-CDMA System", IEEE Veh Technol Conf, Amsterdam, September 1999. 
• S.J. Grant and J. Cavers, " Multiuser channel estimation for detection of cochannel signals", IEEE Internat. Conf. on Commun., Vancouver, June 1999. 
• J. Cavers, " Optimized Use of Diversity Modes in Transmitter Diversity Systems", IEEE Veh Technol Conf, (Spring), Houston, May 1999. 
• J. Wang and J. Cavers, "Block-Based Blind MLSE Co-channel PSK Signal Detection over Rayleigh Flat-Fading Channels with an Antenna Array", IEEE Veh Technol Conf, Houston, May 1999. 
• L.R. Welburn and J.K. Cavers, "Pilot Signals Improve the Performance of a Reed-Solomon Errors and Erasures Decoder in Rayleigh Fading Channels" IEEE Trans Commun, vol. 47, no. 5, pp 689-696, May 1999. 
• J. Wang and J. Cavers, "Joint Blind MLSE for Co-Channel PSK Signals Over Rayleigh Flat Fading Channels with an Antenna Array," IEEE Veh. Technol. Conf., Ottawa, May 1998. 
• A.M. Smith and J.K. Cavers, "A Wideband Architecture for Adaptive Feedforward Amplifier Linearization," IEEE Veh. Technol. Conf., Ottawa, May 1998. 
• L. Welburn, J. K. Cavers, " Improved Performance of Reed-Solomon Decoding with the use of Pilot Signals for Erasure Generation", Proc. of IEEE Veh. Technol. Conf, Ottawa, May, 1998. 
• S.J. Grant and J.K. Cavers, " Performance enhancement through joint detection of cochannel signals using diversity arrays", IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol.., vol. 46, no. 8, pp. 1038-1049, August 1998. 
• J.K. Cavers, "New Methods for Adaptation of Quadrature Modulators and Demodulators in Amplifier Linearization Circuits," IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol., vol 46, no 3, pp 707-716, August 1997. 
• J.K. Cavers, "The Effect of Quadrature Modulator and Demodulator Errors on Adaptive Digital Predistorters for Amplifier Linearization," IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol., vol 46, no 2, pp 456-466, May 1997. 
• J.K. Cavers, J.-H. Kim and P. Ho, "Exact Calculation of the Union Bound on Performance of Trellis Coded Modulation in Fading Channels," IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 46, no. 5, pp. 576-579, May 1998. 
• J.K. Cavers, J.-H. Kim and P. Ho, "Exact Calculation of the Union Bound on Performance of Trellis Coded Modulation in Fading Channels," uncut manuscript version, March 1996. 
• S.J. Grant, J.K. Cavers, and P.A. Goud, " A DSP Controlled Adaptive Feedforward Amplifier Linearizer," Proc. IEEE Intl. Conf. Universal Personal Commun, pp. 788-792, Cambridge, MA, Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 1996. 
• J.K. Cavers, "Pilot Symbol Assisted Modulation and Differential Detection in Fading and Delay Spread," IEEE Trans. Commun., vol 43, no 7, pp 2206-2212, July 1995. 
• J.K. Cavers, "Adaptation Behaviour of a Feedforward Amplifier Linearizer," IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol., vol 44, no 1, pp 31-40, February 1995. 
• D. Hilborn, S. Stapleton and J. Cavers, "An Adaptive Direct Conversion Transmitter," IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol., vol 43, no 2, pp 223-233, May 1994. 
• S.J Grant and J.K. Cavers, "Performance Enhancement Through Joint Detection of Cochannel Signals Using Diversity Arrays," IEEE Trans Commun, vol 46, no 8, pp1038-1049, August 1998. 
• J.K. Cavers, " Fast Acquisition of Carrier and Timing in Low SNR and Fading Using Diversity Antennas", Proc. IEEE Veh. Technol. Conf., Phoenix, May 1997. 
• James K. Cavers and Maria Liao, "Adaptive Compensation for Imbalance and Offset Losses in Direct Conversion Transceivers," IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol., vol 42, no 4, pp 581-588, November 1993. 
• J.K. Cavers and Jean Varaldi, "Cochannel Interference and Pilot Symbol Assisted Modulation," IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol., vol 42, no 4, pp 399-406, November 1993. 
• P. Ho, J. K. Cavers and J. Varaldi, "The Effects of Constellation Density on Trellis Coded Modulation in Fading Channels," IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol., Vol. 42, No. 3, pp 318-325, August 93. 
• J. K. Cavers, "Pilot Symbol Assisted Modulation in Fading and Delay Spread," IEEE Veh. Technol. Conference, Secaucus, May 93. 
• J.K. Cavers and P. Ho, "Reducing the Computation Time in Simulations of Fading Channels," IEEE Veh. Techol. Conf., Boulder, May 92. 
• J.K. Cavers and P. Ho, "Analysis of the Error Performance of Trellis Coded Modulations in Rayleigh Fading Channels," IEEE Trans. Commun., Vol. 40, No. 1, pp 74-83, January 92. 
• J.K. Cavers and M. Liao, "A Comparison of Pilot Tone and Pilot Symbol Techniques for Digital Mobile Communication," IEEE Global Telecommunication Conference, Orlando, December 1992. 
• J.K. Cavers, " On the validity of the slow and moderate fading models for matched filter detection of Rayleigh fading signals," Canadian J. Elect. & Comp. Eng., vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 183-189, October 1992. (often cited, seldom read - here's your chance to see it) 
• J.K. Cavers and R.F. Marchetto, "A New Coding Technique for Spectral Shaping of Data," IEEE Trans. Comm., Vol. 40, No. 9, pp 1418-1422, September 1992.