Performance analysis of space-time block coded systems with channel estimation

Abstract

Multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communication systems are promising for next generation wireless communication, among which space-time block coding (STBC) has attracted much research interests for its simple receiver structure. In this dissertation, we propose symbol-by-symbol channel estimation systems for STBC. We analyze the bit error probability (BEP) performances of these receivers when minimum mean-square-error estimates are available. We first derive the BEP performance of the receiver with maximum ratio combining. The BEP result is given in an exact closed-form expression, which shows the direct dependence on the mean square error of the channel estimator and the signal-to-noise ratio. We then extend the work to a system with selection combining schemes. The analytical results show that the selection combining systems achieve the diversity gain provided by the total number of available receive antennas. Transmit antenna selection (TAS) is a technique to exploit the transmit diversity other than space-time coding. We also propose a TAS/STBC system based on the channel estimation receiver structure. Exact performance analysis is conducted for tractable cases.