An algorithm for Doppler shift and Doppler rate estimation based on pilot symbols

To achieve fast carrier synchronization in low SNR circumstances for burst transmission satellite mobile communication systems, we present a joint-estimation algorithm for Doppler shift and Doppler rate based on pilot symbols. The algorithm selects finite Doppler rate test values, figures out several sets of Doppler shift and Doppler rate using existing low-complexity frequency estimation algorithm, and gets the final estimation result according to ML criterion. The simulation results show that this algorithm has low SNR threshold, and its estimation performance is close to Cramer-Rao Lower Bound (CRLB). The algorithm´s computational complexity is much lower than ML algorithm, and it is very suitable for practical application.