Robust and consistent pilot designs for frequency offset estimation in MIMO OFDM systems

This paper presents pilot designs for consistent frequency offset estimation of MIMO OFDM systems in frequency selective fading channels. We derive the sufficient consistency condition for the pilots in MIMO OFDM systems to yield unambiguous estimation, and present corresponding consistent pilot designs. We discuss robustness of the frequency offset estimation against outliers at low to moderate SNR values and present an efficient criterion to choose robust and consistent pilots. Furthermore, we develop pilot designs which satisfy both consistency over a limited frequency offset estimation range and the optimal channel estimation condition in MIMO OFDM systems. Simulation results corroborate that both the consistent pilot design condition and the robustness criterion are efficient in choosing pilot patterns yielding better frequency offset estimation performance.