An efficient sensor quantization algorithm for decentralized estimation fusion

In this paper, we consider the design problem of optimal sensor quantization rules (quantizers) and an optimal linear estimation fusion rule in bandwidth-constrained decentralized random signal estimation fusion systems. First, we derive a fixed-point-type necessary condition for both optimal sensor quantization rules and an optimal linear estimation fusion rule: a fixed point of an integral operation. Then, we can motivate an iterative Gauss–Seidel algorithm to simultaneously search for both optimal sensor quantization rules and an optimal linear estimation fusion rule without Gaussian assumptions on the joint probability density function (pdf) of the estimated parameter and observations. Moreover, we prove that the algorithm converges to a person-by-person optimal solution in the discretized scheme after a finite number of iterations. It is worth noting that the new method can be applied to vector quantization without any modification. Finally, several numerical examples demonstrate the efficiency of our method, and provide some reasonable and meaningful observations how the estimation performance is influenced by the observation noise power and numbers of sensors or quantization levels.