Delay spread estimation for wireless communication systems

In this paper, average frequency correlation and root-mean-squared (rms) delay spread estimation for wireless communication systems are described. A practical algorithm for averaged channel frequency correlation estimation, which can be used for measuring frequency selectivity, is given. Average rms delay spread of the channel is obtained directly from the channel frequency correlation estimate without obtaining the channel power delay profile (PDP). Analytical relations between channel frequency correlation and assuming an exponentially decaying PDP derives rms delay spread value. Robustness of the proposed rms delay spread estimation method for other PDPs is evaluated. An orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) based wireless communication system is considered for evaluating the performance of the proposed algorithm. It is observed that proposed channel frequency correlation and rms delay spread estimation algorithms work very well in various environments with different PDPs.