Array processing for simplified turbo decoding of interleaved space-time codes

Space-time coded architectures that deploy multiple transmit-receive antennas with interleaved space-time codes are considered. Decoding is based on the iterative concatenation of a demapping stage with a decoding stage. We describe several simplified demapping algorithms based on array processing methods that can include either soft or hard feedback information. These algorithms are particularly suited for application in space-time architectures that deploy bit-interleaved convolutional codes and transmission over block fading channels. Performance results show that space-time bit-interleaved convolutional codes with turbo array processing provide high coding and spatial/temporal diversity gains