Maximum-likelihood synchronization and channel estimation for OFDMA uplink transmissions

Maximum-likelihood estimation of the carrier frequency offset (CFO), timing error, and channel response of each active user in the uplink of an orthogonal frequency-division multiple-access system is investigated in this study, assuming that a training sequence is available. The exact solution to this problem turns out to be too complex for practical purposes as it involves a search over a multidimensional domain. However, making use of the alternating projection method, we replace the above search with a sequence of mono-dimensional searches. This results in an estimation algorithm of a reasonable complexity which is suitable for practical applications. As compared with other existing semi-blind methods, the proposed algorithm requires increased overhead but has more flexibility as it can be used with any subcarrier assignment scheme. Simulations indicate that the accuracy of the CFO estimates asymptotically achieves the Cramer-Rao bound.