Efficient signal detection for space-time block coding over time-selective fading channels

In this paper, we consider the signal detection for space-time block coding over time-selective fading channels. We derive a general maximum likelihood (ML) decision rule for space-time block coding (STBC). The resulting detector is valid for any number of receive antennas and for all STBC systems that have the linear dispersion property. The detector results in a quadratic minimization problem, which can be solved efficiently by sphere decoding or nulling-and-cancelling detection. For orthogonal STBC systems, we also propose a suboptimal detector using the principle of parallel interference cancellation (PIC) that is valid for systems with an arbitrary number of receive antennas.