Space-time signaling and frame theory

Wireless systems with multiple transmit and receive antennas (MIMO systems) provide high capacity due to the plurality of modes available in the channel. Previous code designs for MIMO systems have focused primarily on multiplexed signaling for high data rate or diversity signaling for high link reliability. In this paper, based on previous work reported in [1, 2], and using results from frame theory, we present a MIMO space-time code design which bridges the gap between multiplexing and diversity and performs well both in terms of ergodic capacity as well as error probability. In particular, we demonstrate that designs performing well from an ergodic capacity point of view do not necessarily perform well from an error probability point of view. Simulations illustrate performance of the proposed codes in narrowband MIMO Rayleigh fading channels.