On the Markov modeling of digital communication channels

Evaluation, testing, and performance analysis of modulation, coding, multiple access, diversity methods and other countermeasure techniques over stochastic communication channels requires as accurate channel model as possible leading to immense complexity of such models. However, even have a very accurate method the ldquoperfect simulationrdquo of the channel would remain impossible because of the nonstationary stochastic behavior of most of the communication channels, especially the wireless ones. Fortunately, for different techniques different level of abstraction of the reality can be taken into account without any/or significant influence on the performance analysis of such techniques. This paper deals with Markov models applicable for stochastic simulation of the digital communication channels. Different level of abstraction to deduce digital processes from the analog channel measured and the relevant error gap and burst characteristics necessary to evaluate the appropriate Markov model will be introduced by some examples. Special attention is paid for the renewalness properties of the gap and burst processes. One of the main finding of this paper is the statement, that to carried out the appropriate choice of the Markov model the renewalness properties of both burst and gap processes should be taken into account simultaneously. In addition, according to the best knowledge of the author, the duality relation between the gap and burst processes are derived in the first time.