Iterative multiuser joint detection and parameter estimation: a factor-graph approach

We examine a multiple-access AWGN channel with synchronous DS-CDMA in which the channel amplitude and noise variance parameters are unknown a priori. We derive an iterative joint multiuser decoder and parameter estimator based on soft interference cancellation and on soft decision-driven least-squares estimation. Our derivation is obtained by applying the sum-product algorithm to the factor graph of the joint a posteriori probability measure of the information bits and of the unknown channel parameters.