Estimation of Autoregressive Fading Channels Based on Two Cross-Coupled H∞ Filters

This paper deals with the on-line estimation of time-varying frequency-flat Rayleigh fading channels based on training sequences and using H∞ filtering. When the fading channel is approximated by an autoregressive (AR) process, the AR model parameters must be estimated. As their direct estimations from the available noisy observations at the receiver may yield biased values, the joint estimation of both the channel and its AR parameters must be addressed. Among the existing solutions to this joint estimation issue, Expectation Maximization (EM) algorithm or crosscoupled filter based approaches can be considered. They usually require Kalman filtering which is optimal in the H2 sense provided that the initial state, the driving process and measurement noise are independent, white and Gaussian. However, in real cases, these assumptions may not be satisfied. In addition, the state-space matrices and the noise variances are not necessarily accurately estimated. To take into account the above problem,we propose to use two crosscoupled H∞ filters. This method makes it possible to provide robust estimation of the fading channel and its AR parameters

Self-Adaptive Stochastic Rayleigh Flat Fading Channel Estimation

International audienceThis paper deals with channel estimation over flat fading Rayleigh channel with Jakes' Doppler Spectrum. Many estimation algorithms exploit the time-domain correlation of the channel by employing a Kalman filter based on a first-order (or sometimes second-order) approximation of the time-varying channel with a criterion based on correlation matching (CM), or on the Minimization of Asymptotic Variance (MAV). In this paper, we first consider a reduced complexity approach based on Least Mean Square (LMS) algorithm, for which we provide closed-form expressions of the optimal step-size coefficient versus the channel state statistic (additive noise power and Doppler frequency) and of corresponding asymptotic mean-squared-error (MSE). However, the optimal tuning of the step-size coefficient requires knowledge of the channel's statistic. This knowledge was also a requirement for the aforementioned Kalman-based methods. As a second contribution, we propose a self-adaptive estimation method based on a stochastic gradient which does not need a priori knowledge. We show that the asymptotic MSE of the self-adaptive algorithm is almost the same as the first order Kalman filter optimized with the MAV criterion and is better than the latter optimized with the conventional CM criterion. We finally improve the speed and reactivity of the algorithm by computing an adaptive speed process leading to a fast algorithm with very good asymptotic performance

3-D Mobile-to-Mobile channel tracking with first-order autoregressive model-based Kalman filter

International audienceThis paper deals with channel estimation in Mobile-to-Mobile communication assuming three-dimensional scattering environment. It approximates the channel by a first-order autoregressive (AR(1)) model and tracks it by a Kalman filter. The common method used in the literature to estimate the parameter of AR(1) model is based on a correlation matching criterion. We propose another criterion based on the Minimization of the Asymptotic Variance of the Kalman filter, and we justify why it is more appropriate for slow fading variations. This paper provides the closed-form expression of the optimal AR(1) parameter under minimum asymptotic variance criterion and the approximated expression of the estimation variance in output of the Kalman filter, both for Fixed-to-Mobile and Mobile-to-Mobile communication channels

Third-order Complex Amplitudes Tracking Loop for Slow Flat Fading Channel On-Line Estimation

12 pagesInternational audienceThis paper deals with channel estimation in tracking mode over a flat Rayleigh fading channel with Jakes' Doppler Spectrum. Many estimation algorithms exploit the time-domain correlation of the channel by employing a Kalman filter based on a first-order (or sometimes second-order) approximation model of the time-varying channel. However, the nature of the approximation model itself degrades the estimation performance for slow to moderate varying channel scenarios. Furthermore, the Kalman-based algorithms exhibit a certain complexity. Hence, a different model and approach has been investigated in this work to tackle all of these issues. A novel PLL-structured third-order tracking loop estimator with a low complexity is proposed. The connection between a steady-state Kalman filter based on a random walk approximation model and the proposed estimator is first established. Then, a sub-optimal mean-squared-error (MSE) is given in a closed-form expression as a function of the tracking loop parameters. The parameters that minimize this sub-optimal MSE are also given in a closed-form expression. The asymptotic MSE and Bit-Error-Ratio (BER) simulation results demonstrate that the proposed estimator outperforms the first and second order Kalman-based filters reported in literature. The robustness of the proposed estimator is also verified by a mismatch simulation