Joint multi-layer multi-rate code and quasi-orthogonal space-time code scheme with good diversity-multiplexing tradeoffs

In this work, a transmission scheme that combines multi-layer multi-rate (MLMR) coding with quasi-orthogonal space-time block coding (QO-STBC) is proposed. Firstly, the proposed QO-STBC codewords set unequal diversity orders for different transmitted spatial data layers. Then, different spatial data layers are protected by different-rate channel codes with the aim of achieving the same post-decoding performance. Therefore, the overall performance can be improved. The quasi-orthogonal structure lends itself to low complexity high performance ordered successive interference cancellation (OSIC) receiver. Simulation results show that the proposed MLMR coded QO-STBC scheme achieves up to 1.3dB performance gain over conventional bit interleaved coded modulation (BICM) scheme and high up to 7.8dB over BICM based V-BLAST system, and achieves better diversity-multiplexing tradeoffs.