Diversity receiver for dispersive channels, combining reliability- weighed signals

摘要

At least two receiving branches receive incoming signals corresponding to a transmitted data sequence. Each branch includes an equalizer for producing an estimate of the transmitted data sequence, and providing for each data element a reliability information signal representing a computed probability that the data symbol or value for that element is correct. The receiver selects as a most probable estimate the symbol or value having the highest sum of the reliability information signals from the receive branches. Preferably, for a binary system, each branch provides a single numerical value whose sign identifies the symbol (e.g., 1 or 0), and whose absolute value is its probability. The single numerical values from the branches are simply added to determine the best estimate for that element.