Blind feedforward symbol timing estimation with PSK signals

This paper deals with the problem of blind symbol timing estimation with M-ary phase-shift keying signals. A least-squares (LS) estimator exploiting the structure of the received signal when the convolution of the transmitter's signaling pulse and the receiver filter satisfies the Nyquist criterion, is proposed. Since the derived LS algorithm requires a maximization with respect to a continuous variable, a closed-form approximate LS (ALS) algorithm, suitable for digital implementation, is proposed. Computer simulation results show that with small excess bandwidth factors the derived ALS algorithm outperforms previously proposed algorithms at moderate and high signal-to-noise ratios.