Block Bayesian sparse learning algorithms with application to estimating channels in OFDM systems

Cluster-sparse channels often exist in frequency-selective fading broadband communication systems. The main reason is received scattered waveform exhibits cluster structure which is caused by a few reflectors near the receiver. Conventional sparse channel estimation methods have been proposed for general sparse channel model which without considering the potential cluster-sparse structure information. In this paper, we investigate the cluster-sparse channel estimation (CS-CE) problems in the state of the art orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. Novel Bayesian cluster-sparse channel estimation (BCS-CE) methods are proposed to exploit the cluster-sparse structure by using block sparse Bayesian learning (BSBL) algorithm. The proposed methods take advantage of the cluster correlation in training matrix so that they can improve estimation performance. In addition, different from our previous method using uniform block partition information, the proposed methods can work well when the prior block partition information of channels is unknown. Computer simulations show that the proposed method has a superior performance when compared with the previous methods.