Coded performance for combined spatial multiplexing/space-time block coding wireless systems

This paper presents novel detection strategies for hybrid systems combining spatial division multiplexing (SDM) and space- time block coding (STBC). Group-based approaches in which STBC streams are individually targeted as well as direct approaches where the STBC structure is not taken into account in the detection process are considered. We introduce two types of group-based detectors and compare their performance with that of previous group-based and direct proposals in both, coded and uncoded setups, showing the superiority of one of our proposals (linear). Despite the generality of the proposed receivers, the presented simulations results focus on the IEEE 802.1 In wireless local area network (WLAN) as this is one of the first commercial standards to explicitly support hybrid SDM/STBC systems.