Error probability for maximum likelihood sequence estimation of trellis-coded modulation on ISI channels

A method is presented for upper bounding the error probability of trellis-coded modulation on multipath-fading ISI channels that uses one-directional stack algorithm. The method provides a tighter upper bound than transfer function bounding techniques, and is useful for large-state systems, because the transfer function is not required. The stack algorithm exploits the symmetry properties of the trellis code to reduce computing time.