Channel estimation and tracking for point-to-point and multiple-access MIMO communications

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Traditional point-to-point wireless communication systems consist of a single-antenna transmitter and a single-antenna receiver. In such systems, the Single-Input Single-Output (SISO) channel between the transmitter and the receiver is subject to "fading", i.e. the channel behavior changes with time and with locations of the transmitter and receiver.  Such channel variations can adversely affect the quality of the communication.  Recently, Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) techniques have been studied as powerful tools to combat fading. In MIMO communication systems, both the transmitter and the receiver are equipped with multiple antennas. In this way, the MIMO channel becomes more reliable because it is very unlikely that all individual links between the transmitting and receiving antennas go into "deep fading" at the same time. This fading resistance characteristic of MIMO systems can lead to an increase in the data transfer rate. To benefit from potential advantages of MIMO systems, sophisticated techniques for transmitting the information over multiple antennas are required. Also, at the receiver, advanced methods are required to efficiently combine the received signals from multiple antennas and to retrieve the transmitted information. In order to design efficient MIMO reception schemes, one needs to have precise knowledge of the underlying MIMO channel. Hence, channel estimation plays an important role in MIMO communications. Moreover, as the channel changes with time, tracking and predicting the channel behavior is essential to reliable MIMO communication. This project aims at developing more efficient and reliable channel estimation and tracking methods for MIMO communications. This study will consider both point-to-point and multiple-access MIMO communication schemes. This research program aims at developing practically useful results that will improve the communication reliability within the Canadian wireless infrastructure. It will also have a direct impact on training highly qualified personnel who can become the leaders of Canada's future wireless industry.