Reduced complexity closest point decoding algorithms for random lattices

Abstract-Closest point algorithms find wide applications in decoding block transmissions encountered with single- or multiuser communication links relying on a single or multiple antennas. Capitalizing on the random channel and noise models typically encountered in wireless communications, the sphere decoding algorithm (SDA) and related complexity-reducing techniques are approached in this paper from a probabilistic perspective. With both theoretical analysis and simulations, combining SDA with detection ordering is justified. A novel probabilistic search algorithm examining potential candidates in a descending probability order is derived and analyzed. Based on probabilistic search and an error-performance-oriented fast stopping criterion, a computationally efficient layered search is developed. Having comparable decoding complexity to the nulling-canceling (NQ algorithm with detection ordering, simulations confirm that the novel layered search achieves considerable error-performance enhancement.