Performance analysis of decision directed maximum likelihood MIMO channel tracking algorithm

In this paper, the performance of decision directed (DD) maximum likelihood (ML) channel tracking algorithm is analyzed. The ML channel tracking algorithm presents efficient performance especially in the decision directed mode of the operation. In this paper, after introducing the method for analysis of DD algorithms, the performance of ML MIMO channel tracking algorithm in the DD mode of operation is analyzed. In this method channel tracking error is evaluated for a given decision error rate. Then, the decision error rate is approximated for a given channel tracking error. By solving these two derived equations jointly, both the decision error rate and the channel tracking error are computed. The presented analysis is compared with simulation results for different channel ranks, Doppler frequency shifts, and signal‐to‐noise ratios, and it is shown that the analysis is a good match for simulation results especially in high rank MIMO channels and high Doppler shifts. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.