Error probability for direct-sequence spread-spectrum multiple-access communications. I - Upper and lower bounds

Upper and lower bounds on the average probability of error are obtained for direct-sequence spread-spectrum multiple-access communications systems with additive white Gaussian noise channels. The bounds, which are developed from convexity properties of the error probability function, are valid for systems in which the maximum multiple-access interference does not exceed the desired signal and the signature sequence period is equal to the duration of the data pulse. The tightness of the bounds is examined for systems with a small number of simultaneously active transmitters. This is accomplished by comparisons of the upper and lower bounds for several values of the system parameters. The bounds are also compared with an approximation based on the signal-to-noise ratio and with the Chernoff upper bound.