Code Assisted Iterative Channel Estimation For Ofdm Systems Over Multipath Fast Fading Channels

The increasing demand for high data rate transmission over broadband radio channels has imposed significant challenges in wireless communications. Accurate channel estimation has a major impact onthe whole system performance. Specifically, reliable estimate of the channel state information (CSI) is more challenging for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems in doubly selective fading channels than for the slower fading channels over which OFDM has been deployed traditionally. With the help of a basis expansion model (BEM), a novel multivariate autoregressive (AR) process is developed to model the time evolution of the fast fading channel. Relying on pilot symbol aided modulation (PSAM), a novel Kalman smoothing algorithm based on a second-order dynamic model is exploited, where the mean square error (MSE) of the channel estimator is near to that of the optimal Wiener filter. To further improve the performance of channel estimation, a novellow-complexity iterative joint channel estimation and symbol detection procedure is developed for fast fading channels with a small number of pilots and low pilot power to achieve the bit errorrate (BER) performance close to when the CSI is known perfectly. The new channel estimation symbol detection technique is robust to variations of the radio channel from the design values and applicable to multiple modulation and coding types. By use of the extrinsic information transfer (EXIT) chart, we investigate the convergence behavior of the new algorithm and analyze the modulation, pilot density, and error correction code selection for good system performance for a given power level. The algorithms developed in this thesis improve the performance of the whole system requiring only low ratios of pilot to data for excellent performance in fast fading channels.

The proposed receivers in this dissertation leverage iterative processing. The architecture of iterative processing based on the Turbo principle can be summarized as separate estimation/detection and decoding blocks exchanging information for mutual performance improvement. Within the iterative structure, we first develop sequential and joint estimators for CFO and multipath channel coefficients. More efficient estimators are then developed for sparse channels. Finally, the optimal power allocation between pilots and data for the OFDM iterative receiver is investigated using the EXIT chart. We show that the optimal power allocation strategy can be quite different for the iterative versus non-iterative receiver. The proposed system is implemented in hardware and underwater field tests are conducted. The successful underwater test results show the effectiveness of the proposed receiver.

Coherent modulation is more effective than differential modulation for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems requiring high data rate and spectral efficiency. Channel estimation is therefore an integral part of the receiver design. In this thesis, two iterative maximum likelihood based channel estimation algorithms are proposed for an OFDM system in dispersive time-varying channels. A multipath channel model is proposed for OFDM uplink transmission in macrocellular systems. The multipath fading channel is modeled such that the channel state can be determined by estimating the unknown channel parameters. A second-order Taylor series expansion is adopted to simplify the channel estimation problem. Based on the system model, an iterative maximum likelihood based algorithm is first proposed to estimate the discrete-time channel parameters. The mean square error performance of the proposed algorithm is analyzed using a small perturbation technique. Based on a convergence rate analysis, an improved iterative maximum likelihood based channel estimation algorithm is presented using a successive overrelaxation method. Numerical experiments are performed to confirm the theoretical analyses and show the improvement in convergence rate of the improved algorithm.

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system is one of the multicarrier techniques which is robust against Inter-symbol-Interference, multipath fading and very easy to apply in transmitters by using inverse fast Fourier transform IFFT and at the receivers by using fast Fourier transform FFT. In a communication system, channel estimation is very important issue for the data detection. In coherent detection, one of the popular techniques is to use pilot tones as a reference signal in OFDM symbols. In the comb-type pilot tones insertion, pilot tones are inserted into each OFDM symbols, but inserting a large number of pilot tones will lead to channel capacity reduction or bandwidth expansion [1-2]. In this work, to overcome this transmission loss, a modified least square (ModLS) algorithm for fast time varying wireless channel at comb-type pilot arrangement in QAM signals for OFDM system is proposed. The simulation results obtained from the proposed algorithm showed a good performance in noisy wireless channels. In addition, it has been compared with least square (LS) algorithm in different signal to noise ratios and different channel tabs.

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is well-known for its efficient high speed transmission and robustness to frequency-selective fading channels. On the other hand, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna systems have the ability to increase capacity and reliability of a wireless communication system compared to single-input single-output (SISO) systems. Hence, the integration of the two technologies has the potential to meet the ever growing demands of future communication systems. In these systems, channel estimation is very crucial to demodulate the data coherently. For a good channel estimation, spectral efficiency and lower computational complexity are two important points to be considered. In this thesis, we explore different channel estimation techniques in order to improve estimation performance by increasing the bandwidth efficiency and reducing the computational complexity for both SISO-OFDM and MIMO-OFDM systems. We first investigate pilot and Expectation-Maximization (EM)-based channel estimation techniques and compare their performances. Next, we explore different pilot arrangements by reducing the number of pilot symbols in one OFDM frame to improve bandwidth efficiency. We obtain the bit error rate and the channel estimation performance for these pilot arrangements. Then, in order to decrase the computational complexity, we propose an iterative channel estimation technique, which establishes a link between the decision block and channel estimation block using virtual subcarriers. We compare this proposed technique with EM-based channel estimation in terms of performance and complexity. These channel estimation techniques are also applied to STBC-OFDM and V-BLAST structured MIMO-OFDM systems. Finally, we investigate a joint EM-based channel estimation and signal detection technique for V-BLAST OFDM system.

As a result of higher frequencies and increased user mobility, researchers and systems designers are shifting their focus from time-invariant models to channels that vary within a block. Wireless Communications Over Rapidly Time-Varying Channels explains the latest theoretical advances and practical methods to give an understanding of rapidly time varying channels, together with performance trade-offs and potential performance gains, providing the expertise to develop future wireless systems technology. As well as an overview of the issues of developing wireless systems using time-varying channels, the book gives extensive coverage to methods for estimating and equalizing rapidly time-varying channels, including a discussion of training data optimization, as well as providing models and transceiver methods for time-varying ultra-wideband channels. An introduction to time-varying channel models gives in a nutshell the important issues of developing wireless systems technology using time-varying channels Extensive coverage of methods for estimating and equalizing rapidly time-varying channels, including a discussion of training data optimization, enables development of high performance wireless systems Chapters on transceiver design for OFDM and receiver algorithms for MIMO communication channels over time-varying channels, with an emphasis on modern iterative turbo-style architectures, demonstrates how these important technologies can optimize future wireless systems

This book introduces the theoretical elements at the basis of various classes of algorithms commonly employed in the physical layer (and, in part, in MAC layer) of wireless communications systems. It focuses on single user systems, so ignoring multiple access techniques. Moreover, emphasis is put on single-input single-output (SISO) systems, although some relevant topics about multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems are also illustrated. Comprehensive wireless specific guide to algorithmic techniques Provides a detailed analysis of channel equalization and channel coding for wireless applications Unique conceptual approach focusing in single user systems Covers algebraic decoding, modulation techniques, channel coding and channel equalisation

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) due to its appealing features, such as robustness against frequency selective fading and simple channel equalization, is adopted in communications systems such as WLAN, WiMAX and DVB. However, OFDM systems are sensitive to synchronization errors caused by timing and frequency offsets. Besides, the OFDM receiver has to perform channel estimation for coherent detection. The goal of this thesis is to investigate new methods for timing and frequency synchronization and channel estimation in OFDM-based systems. First, we investigate new methods for preamble-aided coarse timing estimation in OFDM systems. Two novel timing metrics using high order statistics-based correlation and differential normalization functions are proposed. The performance of the new timing metrics is evaluated using different criteria including class-separability, robustness to the carrier frequency offset, and computational complexity. It is shown that the new timing metrics can considerably increase the class-separability due to their more distinct values at correct and wrong timing instants, and thus give a significantly better detection performance than the existing timing metrics do. Furthermore, a new method for coarse estimation of the start of the frame is proposed, which remarkably reduces the probability of inter-symbol interference (ISI). The improved performances of the new schemes in multipath fading channels are shown by the probabilities of false alarm, missed-detection and ISI obtained through computer simulations. Second, a novel pilot-aided algorithm is proposed for the detection of integer frequency offset (IFO) in OFDM systems. By transforming the IFO into two new integer parameters, the proposed method can largely reduce the number of trial values for the true IFO. The two new integer parameters are detected using two different pilot sequences, a periodic pilot sequence and an aperiodic pilot sequence. It is shown that the new scheme can significantly reduce the computational complexity while achieving almost the same performance as the previous methods do. Third, we propose a method for joint timing and frequency synchronization and channel estimation for OFDM systems that operate in doubly selective channels. Basis expansion modeling (BEM) that captures the time variations of the channel is used to reduce the number of unknown channel parameters. The BEM coefficients along with the timing and frequency offsets are estimated by using a maximum likelihood (ML) approach. An efficient algorithm is then proposed for reducing the computational complexity of the joint estimation. The complexity of the new method is assessed in terms of the number of multiplications. The mean square estimation error of the proposed method is evaluated in comparison with previous methods, indicating a remarkable performance improvement by the new method. Fourth, we present a new scheme for joint estimation of CFO and doubly selective channel in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing systems. In the proposed preamble-aided method, the time-varying channel is represented using BEM. CFO and BEM coefficients are estimated using the principles of particle and Kalman filtering. The performance of the new method in multipath time-varying channels is investigated in comparison with previous schemes. The simulation results indicate a remarkable performance improvement in terms of the mean square errors of CFO and channel estimates. Fifth, a novel algorithm is proposed for timing and frequency synchronization and channel estimation in the uplink of orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems by considering high-mobility situations and the generalized subcarrier assignment. By using BEM to represent a doubly selective channel, a maximum likelihood (ML) approach is proposed to jointly estimate the timing and frequency offsets of different users as well as the BEM coefficients of the time-varying channels. A space-alternating generalized expectation-maximization algorithm is then employed to transform the maximization problem for all users into several simpler maximization problems for each user. The computational complexity of the new timing and frequency offset estimator is analyzed and its performance in comparison with that of existing methods using the mean square error is evaluated . Finally, two novel approaches for joint CFO and doubly selective channel estimation in the uplink of multiple-input multiple-output orthogonal frequency division multiple access (MIMO-OFDMA) systems are presented. Considering high-mobility situations, where channels change within an OFDMA symbol interval, and the time varying nature of CFOs, BEM is employed to represent the time variations of the channel. Two new approaches are then proposed based on Schmidt Kalman filtering (SKF). The first approach utilizes Schmidt extended Kalman filtering for each user to estimate the CFO and BEM coefficients. The second approach uses Gaussian particle filter along with SKF to estimate the CFO and BEM coefficients of each user. The Bayesian Cramer Rao bound is derived, and performance of the new schemes are evaluated using mean square error. It is demonstrated that the new schemes can significantly improve the mean square error performance in comparison with that of the existing methods.