Noncoherent Amplitude/Phase Modulated Transmission Schemes for Rayleigh Block Fading Channels

In this paper, we investigate noncoherent transmission schemes using amplitude/phase modulation. For uncoded transmission schemes, we derive the pairwise error probability (PEP) and its high-SNR approximation for signal vectors with unequal power values using a noncoherent maximum-likelihood detector under Rayleigh block fading channels. For coded transmission schemes, we consider differential amplitude/phase modulated signals and introduce a codeword-interleaving strategy to improve the error performance. The design criteria for the signal labelling and bit interleaving are also derived via the high-SNR approximation of the PEP. At the receiver, we devise an iterative channel amplitude estimator to enhance the detection reliability. With the help of a specially-designed iterative receiving algorithm, the designed noncoherent coded scheme can provide a significant improvement, either in the error-floor or the waterfall region.