Multiple-Symbol Differential Detection for Unitary Space-Time-Frequency Coding

In this paper, multiple-symbol differential detection (MSDD) is applied to the differential unitary space-time-frequency coding (DUSTFC) scheme over frequency selective fading multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channels. The motivation of applying MSDD is to compensate for the performance loss of conventional (two-symbol observation) differential detection comparing with coherent detection, by extending the observation interval and considering the fading autocorrelations. Since the differential coding of DUSTFC can be performed in time or frequency domain, both the time-domain and frequency-domain MSDD are investigated. After calculating the frequency-domain fading autocorrelation, the decision metrics of MSDD considering appropriate fading autocorrelations are derived in time and frequency domain respectively. Bit error rate (BER) performances of the two kinds of MSDD are analyzed by computer simulations. Simulation results demonstrate that a considerable performance gain can be got by applying MSDD in both cases. and the transmit diversity gain can also be enhanced by applying MSDD. So that it is proved that full advantage of transmit diversity with DUSTFC can be taken by applying MSDD.