Multichannel MLSE equalizer with parametric FIR channel identification

We propose a parametric finite impulse response (FIR) channel identification algorithm, apply the algorithm to a multichannel maximum likelihood sequential estimation (MLSE) equalizer using multiple antennas, and investigate the improvement in the overall bit error rate (BER) performance. By exploring the structure of the specular multipath channels, we are able to reduce the number of channel parameters to provide a better channel estimate for the MLSE equalizer. The analytic BER lower bounds of the proposed algorithm as well as those of several other conventional MLSE algorithms in the specular multipath Rayleigh-fading channels are derived. In the derivation, we consider the channel mismatch caused by the additive Gaussian noise and the finite-length channel approximation error. A handy-to-use simplified BER lower bound is also derived. Simulation results that illustrate the BER performance of the proposed algorithm in the global system for mobile communications (GSM) system are presented and compared to the analytic lower bounds.