Maximum-likelihood joint channel estimation and data detection for space time block coded MIMO systems

This paper considers an exact maximum likelihood (ML) joint channel estimation and data detection problem for orthogonal space time block coded (OSTBC) multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems. We propose an efficient algorithm which achieves exact ML blind data detection even for non-constant-modulus constellations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first algorithm which efficiently achieves exact ML blind detection for OSTBC MIMO systems with non-constant-modulus constellations. Simulation results validate the performance and the complexity improvements our scheme compare with that of LS channel estimation and data detection scheme.