Multiple Filter-Based Deterministic Sequence Estimation in Non-Gaussian Channels

A novel and more robust implementation is proposed for sequence estimation in uncertain environments with additive non-Gaussian ambient noise and intersymbol interference. This is based on a deterministic performance index that minimizes the effect of worst-case disturbances on the estimation error. The decoder has multiple filters and is in the fashion of per-survivor processing with a Viterbi trellis for decoding. There is a substantial performance improvement over maximum-likelihood sequence estimation, as shown by simulation results obtained for joint channel estimation and symbol decoding in non-Gaussian channels.