The expectation-maximization Viterbi algorithm for blind adaptive channel equalization

A blind maximum-likelihood equalization algorithm is described and its convergence behavior is analyzed. Since the algorithm employs the Viterbi algorithm (VA) to execute the expectation step of the expectation-maximization (EM) iteration, we call it the expectation-maximization Viterbi algorithm (EMVA). An EMVA-based blind channel-acquisition technique which achieves a high global convergence probability is developed. The performance of the method is evaluated via numerical simulations under static and fading channel conditions.