Efficient blind decoding of orthogonal space-time block codes over time-selective fading channels

In this paper, we consider efficient blind decoder design for orthogonal space-time block codes (OSTBCs). A general decision rule for blind OSTBC decoding is derived assuming a quasi-static flat multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) Rayleigh fading channel. We use the linear dispersion representation of OSTBCs to derive a blind decoder that results in a quadratic minimization problem, which can be solved efficiently by semidefinite relaxation, sphere decoding or successive interference cancellation. To resolve phase ambiguity problems inherent in blind detectors, rather than using pilot symbols that results in a bandwidth loss, we propose novel totally blind decoders using dual constellations or a superimposed training scheme. To alleviate the computational burden, a minimum mean-squareerror (MMSE) channel estimator is also proposed to track the time-varying channel without using the blind decoder