Multiple-channel optimized quantizers for Rayleigh fading channels

We consider multiple description communication over Rayleigh fading channels with binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) modulators at the transmitter and soft-decision detectors at the receiver. The multiple-channel optimized quantizer design (MCOQD) method, introduced in Y. Zhou et al., (2004) for multiple discrete memoryless channels, is extended to multiple Rayleigh fading channels. The decision thresholds of the soft-decision detectors are optimized to achieve minimum end-to-end distortion. Simulation results show that MCOQD provides more robust quantizers than multiple description scalar quantizers V. Vaishampayan (1993) over Rayleigh fading channels, when both the encoder and decoder are matched to channel statistics and when only the decoder is matched to channel statistics.