Superresolution Measurement and Simulation of Mobile Vector Radio Channels

For the simulation and design of smart antenna transmission principles in mobile radio, precise knowledge of the time-variant directional multipath structure in various radio environments is required. In this paper a new broadband multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) vector radio channel sounder is described which uses multiple antennas at the transmitter as well as at the receiver position. The proposed MIMO measurement principle can be effectively exploited to decorrelate multiple propagation paths and, thus, enhance resolution. With the multidimensional unitary ESPRIT-algorithm applied, joint superresolution estimation of the direction of departure (DOD), the time-delay of arrival (TDOA), and the direction of arrival (DOA) of the propagating waves becomes possible. The measured results can also be used directly for the simulation of combined transmit-receive diversity transmission principles and space-time (ST) adaptive receivers in a multiuser scenario. Results are referenced which are based on a measurement in a complicated indoor environment as it is typical for industrial WLAN applications.