Semi-blind estimation of multipath channel parameters via a separable least squares approach

A novel semi-blind technique is proposed for estimating the time delays and attenuation factors of a multipath channel. The technique is based on a suitable application of the subchannel response matching criterion. The resulting cost function is separable with respect to the two sets of unknown parameters, i.e. time delays and attenuation factors. Thus an efficient two step optimization procedure can be applied. The new method offers computational savings and a lower mean square estimation error as compared to existing semi-blind channel estimation methods. The performance of the new method has been justified theoretically and tested through extensive simulations.