Analysis of Serial and Hybrid Concatenated Space-Time Codes Applying Iterative Decoding

In this letter, we investigate serial and hybrid concatenated space-time (SC-ST and HC-ST) codes applying iterative decoding topologies. The coding operations are based on the concatenation of convolutional coding, interleaving, and space-time coding along with a multiple-transmitter/multiple-receiver diversity system. Through the analysis of the SC-ST and HC-ST coding systems, improved design specifications can be selected for the component encoders with considerations of the wireless channel characteristics. Based on the iterative decoding process and the optimum parameter selection operations, a considerable improvement in the error rate performance is obtained. For the applied specs, the results indicate that at the frame error rate (FER) 10⁻² level the SC-ST coding system provides a coding gain of approximately 3 dB in comparison to the Tarokh, Seshadri, Calderbank (TSC) space-time (ST) code [1], where the HC-ST coding system provides an additional coding gain of approximately 1 dB beyond the SC-ST code.