Infinite factorial unbounded hidden Markov model for blind multiuser channel estimation

Abstract

Bayesian nonparametric models allow solving estimation and detection problems with an unbounded number of degrees of freedom. In multiuser multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication systems we might not know the number of active users and the channel they face, and assuming maximal scenarios (maximum number of transmitters and maximum channel length) might degrade the receiver performance. In this paper, we propose a Bayesian nonparametric prior and its associated inference algorithm, which is able to detect an unbounded number of users with an unbounded channel length. This generative model provides the dispersive channel model for each user and a probabilistic estimate for each transmitted symbol in a fully blind manner, i.e., without the need of pilot (training) symbols.