Single-symbol-decodable differential space-time modulation based on QO-STBC

We present a novel differential space-time modulation (DSTM) scheme that is single-symbol decodable and can provide full transmit diversity. It is the first known single-symbol-decodable DSTM scheme not based on orthogonal STBC (O-STBC), and it is constructed based on the recently proposed minimum-decoding-complexity quasi-orthogonal space-time block code (MDC-QOSTBC). We derive the code design criteria and present systematic methodology to find the solution sets. The proposed DSTM scheme can provide higher code rate than DSTM schemes based on O-STBC. Its decoding complexity is also considerably lower than DSTM schemes based on Sp(2) and double-symbol-decodable QO-STBC, with negligible or slight trade-off in decoding error probability performance