Finite-State Markov Modeling of Flat Fading Channels

The stochastic properties of the binary channel that describe the successes and the failures of the transmission of a modulated signal over a time correlated flat fading channel is considered for investigation. This analysis is employed to develop -th order Markov models for such a burst channel. The order of the Markov model that generates accurate analytical models is estimated for a broad range of fading environments. The parameterization and the accuracy of an important class of hidden Markov models known as the Gilbert-Elliott channel are also investigated. Fading rates are identified in which the -th order and the Gilbert-Elliott channel model approximate the fading channel with similar accuracy. The latter model is useful for approximating slowly fading processes, since it provides a far more compact parameterization.