Joint estimation and decoding of space-time trellis codes (Q1607637)

Summary: We explore the possibility of using an emerging tool in statistical signal processing, sequential importance sampling (SIS), for joint estimation and decoding of space-time trellis codes (STTC). First, we provide background on SIS, and then we discuss its application to STTC systems. It is shown through simulations that SIS is suitable for joint estimation and decoding of STTC with time-varying flat-fading channels when phase ambiguity is avoided. We used a design criterion for STTCs and temporally correlated channels that combats phase ambiguity without pilot signaling. We have shown by simulations that the design is valid.