Frequency domain compression for fronthaul interface

A method, comprising:

• receiving a compressed time domain output signal, where the compressed time domain output signal is generated by applying Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform to frequency domain data contained in a frequency bandwidth to generate a time domain output signal in a time domain, and compressing the time domain output signal, wherein the time domain output signal contains a real part and an imaginary part, wherein a real part dynamic range of the real part is different than an imaginary part dynamic range of the imaginary part, and wherein the real part is scaled by a real part scaling factor and the imaginary part is scaled by an imaginary part scaling factor prior to the time domain output signal being compressed, wherein the Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform is applied on the frequency domain data over the entire frequency bandwidth, with the exception of guard bands and direct current carriers;
• decompressing the compressed time domain output signal;
• and
• applying Discrete Fourier Transform to the decompressed time domain output signal to recover the frequency domain data.

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one non-transitory memory including computer program code,
• the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
• apply Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform to frequency domain data contained in a frequency bandwidth to generate a time domain output signal in a time domain, wherein the Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform is applied on the frequency domain data over the entire frequency bandwidth, with the exception of guard bands and direct current carriers;
• compress the time domain output signal to generate a compressed time domain output signal;
• transmit the compressed time domain output signal over a fronthaul interface to a remote unit, where the compressed time domain output signal is decompressable at the remote unit to generate a decompressed time domain output signal, and where applying Discrete Fourier Transform to the decompressed time domain output signal at the remote unit recovers the frequency domain data,
• wherein the time domain output signal contains a real part and an imaginary part, and wherein the apparatus is further caused to separately scale the real part and the imaginary part, and
• wherein a real part dynamic range of the real part is different than an imaginary part dynamic range of the imaginary part, and wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
• apply a real part scaling factor to the real part and an imaginary part scaling factor to the imaginary part prior to compression of the time domain output signal.