A Robust Coarse Timing Synchronizer Design for Cooperative Diversity OFDM System

In this paper, a robust coarse symbol timing offset synchronizer design for cooperative diversity OFDM system is proposed. Further, a preamble format suitable for cooperative diversity scenario is presented. Then frame structure, preamble and cooperative protocol for transmitter and relay is elaborated in context of deployment of proposed algorithm. The proposed algorithm shows good probability of synch detection even in a Rayleigh fading channel. Furthermore, two low complexity versions for coarse timing metric estimation are also described. The performance of these algorithms is evaluated for orthogonal, independent and proposed preamble using Monte Carlo simulations.