A new subspace method for blind estimation of selective MIMO-STBC channels

In this paper, a new technique for the blind estimation of frequency and/or time-selective multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channels under space-time block coding (STBC) transmissions is presented. The proposed method relies on a basis expansion model (BEM) of the MIMO channel, which reduces the number of parameters to be estimated, and includes many practical STBC-based transmission scenarios, such as STBC-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), space-frequency block coding (SFBC), time-reversal STBC, and time-varying STBC encoded systems. Inspired by the unconstrained blind maximum likelihood (UML) decoder, the proposed criterion is a subspace method that efficiently exploits all the information provided by the STBC structure, as well as by the reduced-rank representation of the MIMO channel. The method, which is independent of the specific signal constellation, is able to blindly recover the MIMO channel within a small number of available blocks at the receiver side. In fact, for some particular cases of interest such as orthogonal STBC-OFDM schemes, the proposed technique blindly identifies the channel using just one data block. The complexity of the proposed approach reduces to the solution of a generalized eigenvalue (GEV) problem and its computational cost is linear in the number of sub-channels. An identifiability analysis and some numerical examples illustrating the performance of the proposed algorithm are also providedThis work was supported by the Spanish Government under projects TEC2007-68020-C04-02/TCM (MultiMIMO) and CONSOLIDER-INGENIO 2010 CSD2008-00010 (COMONSENS)

I/Q imbalance mitigation for space-time block coded communication systems

Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) space-time block coded (STBC) wireless communication systems provide reliable data transmissions by exploiting the spatial diversity in fading channels. However, due to component imperfections, the in-phase/quadrature (I/Q) imbalance caused by the non-ideal matching between the relative amplitudes and phases of the I and Q branches always exists in the practical implementation of MIMO STBC communication systems. Such distortion results in a complex conjugate term of the intended signal in the time domain, hence a mirror-image term in the frequency domain, in the data structure. Consequently, I/Q imbalance increases the symbol error rate (SER) drastically in MIMO STBC or STBC MIMO orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication systems, where both the signal and its complex conjugate are utilized for the information transmission, hence should be mitigated effectively. In this dissertation, the impact of I/Q imbalance in MIMO STBC systems over flat fading channels, the impact of I/Q imbalance in STBC MIMO-OFDM systems and in time- reversal STBC (TR-STBC) systems over frequency-selective fading channels are studied systematically. With regard to the MIMO STBC and the STBC MIMO-OFDM systems with I/Q imbalance, orthogonal space-time block codes (OSTBCs), quasi-orthogonal STBCs (QOSTBCs) and rotated QOSTBCs (RQOSTBCs) are studied, respectively. By exploiting the special structure of the received signal, low-complexity solutions are provided to mitigate the distortion induced by I/Q imbalance successfully. In addition, to mitigate I/Q imbalance while at the same time to exploit the multipath diversity for STBC OFDM systems over frequency-selective fading channels, a new encoding/decoing scheme for the grouped linear constellation precoded (GLCP) OFDM systems with I/Q imbalance is studied. In Chapter 1, the objectives of the research are elaborated. In Chapter 2, the various I/Q imbalance models are introduced, and the model used in this dissertation is established. In Chapter 3, the performance degradation caused by I/Q imbalance of the transceivers in MIMO STBC wireless communication systems over flat fading channels and the solutions are studied. A 2 Tx Alamouti system, a 4 Tx quasi-orthogonal STBC (QOSTBC) system, and a 4 Tx rotated QOSTBC (RQOSTBC) system with I/Q imbalance are studied in detail. By exploiting the special structure of the received signal, low-complexity solutions are proposed to mitigate I/Q imbalance successfully. Since STBCs are developed for frequency-flat fading channels, to achieve the spatial diversity in frequency-selective fading channels, MIMO-OFDM arrangements have been suggested, where STBCs are used across different antennas in conjunction with OFDM. In Chapter 4, the performance degradation caused by I/Q imbalance in STBC MIMO-OFDM wireless systems over frequency-selective fading channels and the solutions are studied. Similarly, a 2 Tx Alamouti system, a 4 Tx quasi-orthogonal STBC (QOSTBC) system, and a 4 Tx rotated QOSTBC (RQOSTBC) system with I/Q imbalance are studied in detail, and low-complexity solutions are proposed to mitigate the distortion effectively. However, OFDM systems suffer from the loss of the multipath diversity by converting frequency-selective fading channels into parallel frequency-flat fading subchannels. To exploit the multipath diversity and reduce the decoding complexity, GLCP OFDM systems with I/Q imbalance are studied. By judiciously assigning the mirror-subcarrier pair into one group, a new encoding/decoding scheme with a low-complexity is proposed to mitigate I/Q imbalance for GLCP OFDM systems in Chapter 5. Since OFDM communication systems have high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) problem and are sensitive to carrier frequency offset (CFO), to achieve both the spatial and multipath diversity, time-reversal STBC (TR-STBC) communication systems are introduced. In Chapter 6, the I/Q imbalance mitigating solutions in TR-STBC systems, both in the time domain and in the frequency domain, are studied

Transmission and detection for space-time block coding and v-blast systems

This dissertation focuses on topics of data transmission and detection of space -time block codes (STBC). The STBCs can be divided into two main categories, namely, the orthogonal space-time block codes (OSTBC) and the quasi-orthogonal space-time codes (Q-OSTBC). The space-time block coded systems from transceiver design perspective for both narrow-band and frequency selective wireless environment are studied. The dissertation also processes and studies a fast iterative detection scheme for a high-rate space-time transmission system, the V-BLAST system. In Chapter 2, a new OSTBC scheme with full-rate and full-diversity, which can be used on QPSK transceiver systems with four transmit antennas and any number of receivers is studied. The newly proposed coding scheme is a non-linear coding. Compared with full-diversity QOSTBC, an obvious advantage of our proposed new OSTBC is that the coded signals transmitted through all four transmit antennas do not experience any constellation expansion. In Chapter 3, a new fast coherent detection algorithm is proposed to provide maximum likelihood (ML) detection for Q-OSTBC. The new detection scheme is also very useful to analysis the diversity property of Q-OSTBC and design full diversity Q-OSTBC codes. The complexity of the new proposed detection algorithm can be independent to the modulation order and is especially suitable for high data rate transmission. In Chapter 4, the space-time coding schemes in frequency selective channels are studied. Q-OSTC transmission and detection schemes are firstly extended for frequency selective wireless environment. A new block based quasi-orthogonal space-time block encoding and decoding (Q-OSTBC) scheme for a wireless system with four transmit antennas is proposed in frequency selective fading channels. The proposed MLSE detection scheme effectively combats channel dispersion and frequency selectivity due to multipath, yet still provides full diversity gain. However, since the computational complexity of MLSE detection increases exponentially with the maximum delay of the frequency selective channel, a fast sub-optimal detection scheme using MMSE equalizer is also proposed, especially for channels with large delays. The Chapter 5 focuses on the V-BLAST system, an important high-rate space-time data transmission scheme. A reduced complexity ML detection scheme for VBLAST systems, which uses a pre-decoder guided local exhaustive search is proposed and studied. A polygon searching algorithm and an ordered successive interference cancellation (O-SIC) sphere searching algorithm are major components of the proposed multi-step ML detectors. At reasonable high SNRs, our algorithms have low complexity comparable to that of O-SIC algorithm, while they provide significant performance improvement. Another new low complexity algorithm termed ordered group-wise interference cancellation (O-GIC) is also proposed for the detection of high dimensional V-BLAST systems. The O-GIC based detection scheme is a sub-optimal detection scheme, however, it outperforms the O-SIC

Design of distributed space-time block codes for relay networks

The fading effect often faced in wireless communications can cause severe attenuation in signal strength. To solve this problem, diversity techniques (in terms of spatial/time/frequency) have been considered. For example, spatial diversity can be achieved by using multiple antennas at the transmitter or the receiver or both. One important architecture that can efficiently exploit the multiple antennas is the space-time block coding (STBC). The realization of STBC requires more than one antenna at the transmitter. Unfortunately, the use of multiple antennas is not practical in many wireless devices due to the size limitation. Recently, the “cooperative diversity”, also known as “user diversity”, enables single-antenna mobiles in a multi-user environment to share their antennas and generate a virtual multiple-antenna transmitter that allows them to achieve transmit diversity. To apply concept of the STBC schemes to the cooperative communications, Laneman et al. suggest the use of “conventional” orthogonal STBC in a “distributed” fashion for practical implementation of user cooperation. The pioneering works on distributed STBC (DSTBC) assume flat fading channels. This can be achieved by using multi-carrier techniques such as orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) to divide a whole spectrum into a set of narrower bands. Hence, the channel can be considered flat in each sub-band. However, for current wireless communications with single-carrier transmission, the frequency selective channels cannot be avoided. Thus, in this dissertation, I will consider the application of DSTBC to frequency selective fading channels. In the first part of my thesis, I present a new design of DSTBC to achieve full rate transmission and channel decoupling property as in conventional STBC by using zero-padding (ZP). Several receiver techniques in frequency domain are studied for the signal detection of the proposed DSTBC. The extension from ZP to unique-word (UW) will be proposed in the second part. Exploiting the properties of the UW, I will present in the third part of my thesis a method of channel estimation for relay networks

Performance and Compensation of I/Q Imbalance in Differential STBC-OFDM

Differential space time block coding (STBC) achieves full spatial diversity and avoids channel estimation overhead. Over highly frequency-selective channels, STBC is integrated with orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) to achieve high performance. However, low-cost implementation of differential STBC-OFDM using direct-conversion transceivers is sensitive to In-phase/Quadrature-phase imbalance (IQI). In this paper, we quantify the performance impact of IQI at the receiver front-end on differential STBC-OFDM systems and propose a compensation algorithm to mitigate its effect. The proposed receiver IQI compensation works in an adaptive decision-directed manner without using known pilots or training sequences, which reduces the rate loss due to training overhead. Our numerical results show that our proposed compensation algorithm can effectively mitigate receive IQI in differential STBC-OFDM.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, IEEE GLOBECOM 201

Distributed Quasi-Orthogonal Space-Time coding in wireless cooperative relay networks

Cooperative diversity provides a new paradigm in robust wireless re- lay networks that leverages Space-Time (ST) processing techniques to combat the effects of fading. Distributing the encoding over multiple relays that potentially observe uncorrelated channels to a destination terminal has demonstrated promising results in extending range, data- rates and transmit power utilization. Specifically, Space Time Block Codes (STBCs) based on orthogonal designs have proven extremely popular at exploiting spatial diversity through simple distributed pro- cessing without channel knowledge at the relaying terminals. This thesis aims at extending further the extensive design and analysis in relay networks based on orthogonal designs in the context of Quasi- Orthogonal Space Time Block Codes (QOSTBCs). The characterization of Quasi-Orthogonal MIMO channels for cooper- ative networks is performed under Ergodic and Non-Ergodic channel conditions. Specific to cooperative diversity, the sub-channels are as- sumed to observe different shadowing conditions as opposed to the traditional co-located communication system. Under Ergodic chan- nel assumptions novel closed-form solutions for cooperative channel capacity under the constraint of distributed-QOSTBC processing are presented. This analysis is extended to yield closed-form approx- imate expressions and their utility is verified through simulations. The effective use of partial feedback to orthogonalize the QOSTBC is examined and significant gains under specific channel conditions are demonstrated. Distributed systems cooperating over the network introduce chal- lenges in synchronization. Without extensive network management it is difficult to synchronize all the nodes participating in the relaying between source and destination terminals. Based on QOSTBC tech- niques simple encoding strategies are introduced that provide compa- rable throughput to schemes under synchronous conditions with neg- ligible overhead in processing throughout the protocol. Both mutli- carrier and single-carrier schemes are developed to enable the flexi- bility to limit Peak-to-Average-Power-Ratio (PAPR) and reduce the Radio Frequency (RF) requirements of the relaying terminals. The insights gained in asynchronous design in flat-fading cooperative channels are then extended to broadband networks over frequency- selective channels where the novel application of QOSTBCs are used in distributed-Space-Time-Frequency (STF) coding. Specifically, cod- ing schemes are presented that extract both spatial and mutli-path diversity offered by the cooperative Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) channel. To provide maximum flexibility the proposed schemes are adapted to facilitate both Decode-and-Forward (DF) and Amplify- and-Forward (AF) relaying. In-depth Pairwise-Error-Probability (PEP) analysis provides distinct design specifications which tailor the distributed- STF code to maximize the diversity and coding gain offered under the DF and AF protocols. Numerical simulation are used extensively to confirm the validity of the proposed cooperative schemes. The analytical and numerical re- sults demonstrate the effective use of QOSTBC over orthogonal tech- niques in a wide range of channel conditions

Space-time-frequency block codes for MIMO-OFDM in next generation wireless systems

In this thesis the use of space-frequency block codes (SFBC) and space-time-frequency block codes (STFBC) in wireless systems are investigated. A variety of SFBC and STFBC schemes are proposed for particular propagation scenarios and system settings where each has its own advantages and disadvantages. The objective is to pro-pose coding strategies with improved flexibility, feasibility and spectral efficiency,and reduce the decoding complexity in an MIMO-OFDM system. Firstly an efficient SFBC with improved system performance is proposed for MIMO-OFDM systems. The proposed SFBC incorporates the concept of matched rotation precoding (MRP) to achieve full transmit diversity and optimal system performance foran arbitrary numberoftransmitantennas,subcarrierinterval andsubcarriergrouping. The MRP is proposed to exploit the inherent rotation and repetition properties of SFBC, arising from the channel power delay profile, in order to fully capture both space and frequency diversity of SFBC in a MIMO-OFDM system. It is able to relax restrictions on subcarrier interval and subcarrier grouping, making it ideal for adaptive/time-varying systems or multiuser systems. The SFBC without an optimization process is unstable in terms of achievable system performance and diversity order, and also risks diversity loss within a specific propagation scenario. Such loss or risk is prominent while wireless propagation channel has a limited number of dominant paths, e.g. relatively close to transmitters or relatively flat topography. Hence in orderto improve the feasibility of SFBC in dynamic scenarios, the lower bound of the coding gain for MRP is derived. The SFBC with MRP is proposed for more practical scenarios when only partial channel power delay profile information is known at the transmit end, for example the wireless channel has dominant propagation paths. The proposed rate one MRP has a relatively simple optimization process that can be transformed into an explicit diagram and hence an optimal result can be derived intuitively without calculations. Next, a multi-rate transmission strategy is proposed for both SFBCand STFBC to balance the system performance and transmission rate. A variety of rate adaptive coding matrices are obtained by a simple truncation of the coding matrix, or by parameter optimization for coding matrices for a given transmission rate and constellation. Pro-posed strategy can easily and gradually adjust the achievable diversity order. As a result it is capable of achieving a relatively smooth balance between system performance and transmission rate in both SFBC and STFBC, without a significant change of coding structure or constellation size. Such tradeoff would be useful to maintain stable Quality of Service (QoS) for users by providing more scalability of achievable performance in a time-varying channel. Finally the decoding procedure of space-time block code (STBC), SFBCand STFBC is discussed. The decoding of all existing STBC/SFBC/STFBC is unified at first, in order to show a concise procedure and make fair comparisons. Then maximum likelihood decoding (MLD) and arbitrary sphere decoding (SD) can be adopted. To reduce the complexity of decoding further, a novel decoding method called compensation de-coding (CD) is presented for a given space-time-frequency coding scheme. By taking advantage of the simplicity of zero-forcing decoding (ZFD) we are able to calculate a compensation vector for the output of ZFD. After modification by utilizing the com-pensation vector, the BER performance can be improved significantly. The decoding procedure is relatively simple and is independent of the constellation size. The per-formance of the proposed decoding method is close to maximum-likelihood decoding for low to medium SNR. A low complexity detection scheme, classifier based decoding (CBD), is further proposed for MIMO systems incorporating spatial multiplexing. The CBD is a hybrid of an equalizer-based technique and an algorithmic search stage. Based on an error matrix and its probability density functions for different classes of error, a particular search region is selected for the algorithmic stage. As the probability of occurrence of error classes with larger search regions is small, overall complexity of the proposed technique remains low, whilst providing a significant improvement in the bit error rate performance

Blind adaptive equalizer for broadband MIMO time reversal STBC based on PDF fitting

In this paper, we propose a new blind adaptive technique used for the equalisation of space-time block coded (STBC) signals transmitted over a dispersive MIMO channel. The proposed approach is based on minimising the difference between the probability density function (PDF) of the equalizer output — estimated via the Parzen window method — and a desired PDF based on the source symbols. The cost function combines this PDF fitting with an orthogonality criterion derived from the STBC structure of the transmitted data in order to discourage the extraction of identical signals. This cost function motivates an effective and low-cost stochastic gradient descent algorithm for adapting the equaliser. The performance is demonstrated in a number of simulations and benchmarked against other blind schemes for the equalisation of STBC over broadband MIMO channels