RLS-Based Estimation and Tracking of Frequency Offset and Channel Coefficients in MIMO-OFDM Systems

In this paper, we investigate the problem of carrier frequency-offset (CFO) synchronization and channel estimation in multiple-input multiple-output orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing systems operating over unknown frequency-selective fading channels. We first propose a novel joint CFO and channel estimator, assuming time-domain training blocks are available. The proposed joint estimator consists of two recursive least-square (RLS) algorithms which iterate their estimated CFO and CIR values. We then derive a more precise pilot-aided RLS algorithm to estimate the residual frequency synchronization errors or track small CFO changes. With this, the accuracy of channel estimation is also enhanced. The analysis and simulation results show that, the proposed estimation and tracking scheme which is fully compatible with the existing standards is able to attain fast convergence, high stability, and ideal performances as compared with relevant Cramer–Rao bounds in all ranges of signal-to-noise ratio. Moreover, it can work well for wide tracking range up to ±0.5 of the subcarrier spacing.