Frequency offset estimation for KSP-OFDM

In this paper, we propose two ad hoc frequency offset (FO) estimation algorithms in a known symbol padding (KSP) orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) system, where the guard interval is filled with pilot symbols. Besides those time domain pilot symbols, some additional pilot symbols are transmitted on the pilot carriers. The FO is estimated without any channel knowledge. One algorithm operates in the time domain (TD), while the other one operates in the frequency domain (FD). The interference from the unknown data symbols is much smaller in the FD than in the TD, especially for small FOs. As a result, the FD initialization algorithm results in a lower mean squared error (MSE). Both estimation algorithms reach the BER performance of a receiver with perfect knowledge about the FO.