Maximum-likelihood sequence estimation techniques for data transmission and their performance on several channel models

The objective was to find methods for reducing the computational complexity of the Viterbi decoder. Various methods were considered, and one new technique was proposed that employed the decision feedback principle with the Viterbi algorithm. The error rate performance of the proposed technique was analyzed, evaluated and compared with simulation results for several additive Gaussian noise, time dispersive channel models. Simulation results have shown the proposed technique yields good performance advantages and was computationally efficient relative to other known techniques. The error rate performance of the proposed technique was also evaluated over a slowly Rayleigh fading, frequency selective multipath channel with diversity and shown to be effective in dealing with the intersymbol interference over such a channel.