Block data transmission: a comparison of performance for MBER precoder designs

Block data transmission is an efficient scheme to mitigate the inter-symbol interference (ISI) caused by dispersive channels. Recent research work attempt to obtain optimal designs of precoders given various linear and non-linear receivers. In this paper we focus on the systems with optimal precoder designs based on the minimization of bit error rate (BER) which is the more meaningful criterion in data communications. The linear receivers employed in these systems include zero-forcing (ZF) and minimum mean square error (MMSE) equalizers. Recently, block decision feedback equalization (DFE) has also been suggested to be used in the design of such block data transmission systems. We also revisit the jointly optimum designs of the precoder coupled with the DFE receivers. First we derive the block-data error rate for all of these different systems with their corresponding optimal precoders. Then we rank their performance accordingly. Simulation results are also obtained to verify our analysis. Later, we evaluate the computational complexity on the various systems and draw some conclusions on their relative merits. Finally, we derive the lower and upper bounds of bit error rate (BER) considering error propagation for systems employing nonlinear equalizers.