Space-time fading channel estimation and symbol detection in unknown spatially correlated noise

Abstract

We present maximum likelihood (ML) methods for space-time fading channel estimation with an antenna array in spatially correlated noise having unknown covariance; the results are applied to symbol detection. The received signal is modeled as a linear combination of multipath-delayed and Doppler-shifted copies of the transmitted waveform. We consider structured and unstructured array response models and derive the Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) for the unknown directions of arrival, time delays, and Doppler shifts. We also develop methods for spatial and temporal interference suppression. Finally, we propose coherent matched-filter and concentrated-likelihood receivers that account for the spatial noise covariance and analyze their performance.