Feedback frequency synchronization for OFDM applications

Maximum-likelihood estimation methods are often used to derive carrier frequency recovery schemes for digital receivers. Unfortunately, their rigorous application is generally hindered by analytical difficulties and, in consequence, some approximations must be made to achieve practical results. In this paper we concentrate on frequency recovery for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing signals. Following Daffara and Chouly (see Proc. ICC, p.766-71, June 1993), we derive a feedback synchronizer based on maximum-likelihood methods. Making different approximations, however, we come up with a scheme that is superior in terms of estimation accuracy. Comparisons are also made with other feedback schemes based on heuristic reasoning.