Expressions for the covariance matrix of covariance data

In several estimation methods used in system identification, a first step is to estimate the covariance functions of the measured inputs and outputs for a small set of lags. These covariance elements can be set up as a vector. The report treats the problem of deriving and computing the asymptotic covariance matrix of this vector, when the number of underlying input-output data is large. The derived algorithm is derived under fairly general assumptions. It is assumed that the input and output are linked through a linear finite-order system. Further, the input is assumed to be modelled as an ARMA model of a fixed, but arbitrary order. Finally, it is allowed that the both the input and the output are not measured directly, but with some white measurement noise, thus including typical errors-in-variables situations in the analysis.