Super-quasi-orthogonal space-time trellis codes for four transmit antennas

We introduce a new family of space-time trellis codes that extends the powerful characteristics of super-orthogonal space-time trellis codes to four transmit antennas. We consider a family of quasi-orthogonal space-time block codes as building blocks in our new trellis codes. These codes combine set partitioning and a super set of quasi-orthogonal space-time block codes in a systematic way to provide full diversity and improved coding gain. The result is a powerful code that provides full rate, full diversity, and high coding gain. It is also possible to maintain a tradeoff between coding gain and rate. Simulation results demonstrate the good performance of our new super-quasi-orthogonal space-time trellis codes.