Non-data-aided frequency-offset and channel estimation in OFDM: and related block transmissions

The many advantages responsible for the widespread application of OFDM are primarily limited by its sensitivity to carrier frequency-offsets. Most of the literature dealing with this problem focuses on data-aided frequency-offset estimation only. In this contribution, several non-data-aided frequency-offset and channel estimation schemes are developed for OFDM transmissions over frequency-selective channels. Timing offset is also accounted for because it is incorporated as a pure delay in the unknown channel. The resulting blind estimation methods include subspace based deterministic or statistical algorithms. Simulations illustrate the performance tradeoffs of these schemes.