Combining space-time block modulation with integer forcing receivers

In a recent work by Zhan et al., a new equalization technique for multiple-input multiple-output channels, applicable when linear codes are used for transmission, was proposed. In this technique, coined integer-forcing equalization, the channel matrix is equalized at the receiver to one consisting of only integer entries. It was demonstrated that for quasi-static independent flat Rayleigh fading, and when independent streams are sent over each transmit antenna, this equalization technique allows to approach quite closely maximum-likelihood performance, using standard coding and decoding of off-the-shelf linear codes designed for transmission over a scalar white Gaussian channel. In particular, the technique is optimal in the diversity-multiplexing tradeoff sense. In the present work, we describe how this receiver structure may be seamlessly combined with linear transmit diversity methods. We show that for quasi-static independent flat Rayleigh fading, this combination allows to approach closely the outage capacity of the channel using linear pre- and post-processing and standard scalar coding and decoding.