New generations of wireless communications systems aim to provide broadband data access to highly mobile users. For example, third-generation cellular standards require operation with users travelling at 500km/h. In an attempt to increase the bandwidth and reliability of these systems, research has been done to develop multiple antenna wireless communication systems that allow higher bandwidth and lower error rates than traditional single antenna systems. Some of the multiple antenna communication systems, such as differential space-time modulation, can offer this bandwidth; however, they assume low fading rates and often require that a significant amount of calibration data be sent over the communication link to determine the gain. This calibration data reduces the bandwidth of the system.
Researchers at the University of Alberta have developed a novel decision feedback detector for use in fast-fading conditions. The new detector substantially improves the robustness of differential space-time modulation to manageable levels enabling increased bandwidth communication in the presence of fast-fading.