Iterative Data Symbol Sequence Detection in Time-Varying Channels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for detecting data symbol sequences in time-variable transmission channels are computationally intensive and introduce additional interference, especially when using maximum likelihood methods, which struggle with real-time estimation due to the complexity of trellis diagrams and the need for frequent channel impulse response estimation.

Innovation Solution

A method that iteratively calculates the path metric and channel impulse response, reducing the number of estimates required and using recursive calculations with a priori and a posteriori errors to simplify the trellis diagram analysis, allowing for both breadth-first and depth-first search approaches to optimize data symbol sequence estimation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If maximum likelihood methods are used for detecting data symbol sequences, then detection accuracy is improved, but computational complexity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the channel impulse response estimation into multiple discrete time points within a symbol period. Instead of estimating the impulse response continuously or at a single point, the method divides it into N time points (h(0), h(1), ..., h(N-1)), allowing selective processing and reducing the overall computational burden while maintaining detection accuracy through the iterative Viterbi algorithm.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a dynamic approach by iteratively updating the channel impulse response estimates within the Viterbi algorithm. The impulse response is not fixed but is continuously refined through N time points, with each iteration providing updated estimates that improve subsequent detection decisions. This dynamic estimation adapts to channel variations without requiring full maximum likelihood computation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If the number of channel impulse response estimates is increased to improve detection accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel estimation accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by evaluating the channel impulse response at N discrete time points within each symbol period rather than continuously. This periodic sampling approach (at times t=0, 1, 2, ..., N-1) captures the essential channel characteristics while avoiding the computational burden of continuous estimation, thus reducing processing time while maintaining adequate estimation accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses partial action by selecting a limited number of critical time points (N points) for impulse response estimation rather than estimating at every possible time instant. This partial sampling provides sufficient information for accurate detection without the excessive computational effort of complete continuous estimation, achieving an optimal balance between accuracy and processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Device complexity

If trellis diagram states are reduced to lower computational complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but detection accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomputational complexityVSAvoiddetection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing the channel impulse response estimates at N time points before executing the Viterbi algorithm. This preliminary estimation prepares the necessary data structures and metric values in advance, allowing the subsequent detection phase to proceed with reduced real-time computational complexity while maintaining full detection accuracy through the use of these pre-computed estimates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP1964344B8Method and equaliser for detecting data symbol sequences from a received signal containing said sequences, transmitted via a time-variable transmission channel
Publication Date: 2018.11.14 ROHDE & SCHWARZ GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and to a device for detecting several data symbol sequences (d 1