Timing Offset Estimation in OTFS Systems Using Zero-Correlation-Zone Sequences

In this paper, a novel timing-offset (TO) estimation method is proposed for orthogonal time-frequency-space (OTFS) systems using zero-correlation-zone (ZCZ) sequences. In contrast to prior method that relies on ZCZ sequence-only transmission, the proposed method multiplexes ZCZ sequence and data symbols within a single OTFS frame to enhance spectral efficiency. The receiver employs a correlator bank matched to Doppler-shifted replicas of the ZCZ sequence for accurate TO estimation. Numerical simulations confirm that the proposed method achieves robust synchronization in high-mobility environments with only a modest increase in transmit power.