Effective channel order estimation based on combined identification/equalization

Channel order estimation is a critical step in most blind single-input multiple-output (SIMO) channel identification/equalization algorithms. Several methods for estimating either the true channel order or its most significant part (the so-called effective channel order) have been recently proposed, but a solution able to work in practical scenarios (low or moderate signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and channels with small leading and/or trailing coefficients) has not been found yet. In this paper, a new criterion for effective channel order detection of SIMO channels is presented. The method is based on the fact that the cost function typically used in blind identification algorithms decreases monotonically with the estimated channel order, whereas for blind equalization algorithms, the cost function increases monotonically. In this paper, it is shown that a straightforward combination of both cost functions attains its minimum at the correct channel order even for moderate SNRs. The proposed method is able to work with small data sets, colored signals, and channels with small head and tail taps, which is a common problem in communication applications. The improvement of the proposed criterion over a number of existing algorithms is demonstrated through simulations