Interference estimation for multi-layer MU-MIMO transmission in LTE-Advanced systems

The aim of this paper is to get an insight of the interference estimation for multi-layer multi-user multiple-input and multiple-output (ML-MU-MIMO) transmission for LTE-Advanced (long term evolution) systems. Different interference-aware receivers have been investigated in ML-MU-MIMO with the presence of co-layer, intra-cell and inter-cell interferences. User-specific reference signal (UE-RS) based channel estimation and various interference covariance estimation schemes in LTE-Advanced systems are investigated together analytically and numerically. Our investigation has shown the significant influence of the interference estimation schemes on the system performance at the link level. Furthermore, the simulation results have shown the advanced MMSE receiver together with UE-RS based interference estimation as the most robust receiver structure for the signal detection in ML-MU-MIMO transmission.