Code construction for space-time bit-interleaved coded modulation systems

Bit-interleaved coded modulation schemes give diversity gains on fading channels with higher order modulation constellations combined with conventional binary convolutional codes. By employing multiple transmit and receive antennas, both extended range and/or improved bandwidth efficiency can be achieved in space-time bit-interleaved coded modulation schemes. In this paper, we analyze the performance of this space-time coding scheme in a narrow band flat fading channel and single carrier modems. We give constructive binary codes that yield maximum diversity. We also show that the puncturing mechanism in general fails to achieve the full diversity in such a scheme.