Improving OFDM Data Estimation by Overlapping Based Cyclic Prefix Reuse

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) enables high throughput data transmissions over frequency selective fading channels. Using a cyclic prefix the transmission channel can be described by circular convolution, which allows low complexity FFT based receiver implementations. Generally the CP is discarded at the receiver prior to data estimation, i.e. the redundancy contained in the CP is lost. This redundancy, however, can be used to improve data estimation and hence reduce the bit error rate of the transmission system. This paper considers overlapping frequency domain equalization to exploit CP redundancy for improved OFDM data estimation.