Short-term mobile channel prediction using discrete scatterer propagation model and subspace signal processing algorithms

The fading envelope encountered in narrowband mobile communications often dominates the impairments to communications usage of the channel. Signal processing techniques are extensively used to mitigate the limitations imposed by the fading, and many of the techniques require knowledge of the channel transfer function. The possibility of predicting the changing channel behaviour, in particular the position of the short-term fades, is therefore of interest for the subsequent communications signal processing. Different models of the multipath propagation encourage different algorithms for the model parameter estimation and channel behaviour prediction. These algorithms are reviewed and we present results from simulations showing the performance and limitations of prediction behaviour