On the equivalence of channel-state and block-error Markov models for the analysis of transmission over slow fading channels

Block error processes in transmissions over radio channels can be accurately modeled by a two-state Markov chain (Zorzi et al. 1997) (the block-error Markov model, or BMM). An independent line of research has focused on the use of hidden Markov models to describe channel states (channel-state Markov models, or CSMM) (Turin 1999). Although both techniques provide results that agree well with observations, their relationship has not been recognized in the previous literature. In this paper we show that the BMM can be directly derived from the CSMM. Based on this analysis, we introduce a greatly simplified channel modeling methodology. In the new methodology the BMM is the primary channel characterization tool, and the CSMM becomes essentially an estimation technique that provides parameters for the BMM. Results of packet transmissions in slow fading channels show that our approach provides significant improvements in both accuracy and simplicity over previously proposed techniques