Adaptive Maximum-Likelihood Receiver for Carrier-Modulated Data-Transmission Systems

A new look is taken at maximum-likelihood sequence estimation in the presence of intersymbol interference. A uniform receiver structure for linear carrier-modulated data-transmission systems is derived which for decision making uses a modified version of the Viterbi algorithm. The algorithm operates directly on the output signal of a complex matched filter and, in contrast to the original algorithm, requires no squaring operations; only multiplications by discrete pulse-amplitude values are needed. Decoding of redundantly coded sequences is included in the consideration. The reason and limits for the superior error performance of the receiver over a conventional receiver employing zero-forcing equalization and symbol-by-symbol decision making are explained. An adjustment algorithm for jointly approximating the matched filter by a transversal filter, estimating intersymbol interference present at the transversal filter output, and controlling the demodulating carrier phase and the sample timing, is presented.