Flat fading channel estimation under generic linear space-time block coded transmissions

Linear space-time block codes (STBC) are well established as an efficient means to improve the performance of wireless MIMO communication systems. Their success is contingent upon the accurate knowledge of the channel parameters. In this paper we present a blind channel estimation scheme for general linear STBC. We furnish a set of identification conditions that are largely verifiable in terms of the code parameters and the antenna array configuration. We also present a simple algorithm to estimate the unknown channel matrix. Finally we supply some simulation results to illustrate the performance of the proposed scheme.