Enhancing channel estimates made in digital communications receivers

1. A method of refining a channel estimate for an OFDM sub-carrier, the method comprising:

calculating a first channel estimate for an OFDM sub-carrier for a first OFDM frame received at a receiver from a transmitter;

calculating a second channel estimate for the OFDM sub-carrier for a second OFDM frame received at the receiver from the transmitter at a time later than the first OFDM frame is received;

adjusting the first channel estimate to ameliorate a difference between the first and second channel estimates that arises from a shift in an operating state of the transmitter and the receiver between the times of reception of the first and second OFDM frames;

measuring a discrepancy between the second channel estimate and the adjusted first channel estimate;

modifying the second channel estimate by averaging the second channel estimate with the adjusted first channel estimate if the discrepancy is smaller than a predetermined amount; and

demodulating data from the second OFDM frame using the modified second channel estimate.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the shift in the operating state comprises a change in a difference between an RF carrier angle of the receiver and an RF carrier angle of the transmitter.

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein said adjusting step comprises estimating said change by:

a) for each of a plurality of OFDM sub-carriers:

i) providing a first channel estimate of that sub-carrier for the first OFDM frame;

ii) providing a second channel estimate of that sub-carrier for the second OFDM frame; and

iii) calculating the ratio of the first and second channel estimates for that sub-carrier; and

b) deducing an estimate of said change from an averaging-based calculation on the ratios deduced for said plurality of OFDM sub-carriers.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the shift in the operating state comprises a change in the difference between the sampling instants of the transmitter and receiver.

5. A method according to claim 4 , wherein said adjusting step comprises estimating said change by:

a) for each of a plurality of OFDM sub-carriers:

i) providing a first channel estimate of that sub-carrier for the first OFDM frame;

ii) providing a second channel estimate of that sub-carrier for the second OFDM frame; and

iii) calculating the ratio of the first and second channel estimates for that sub-carrier; and

b) deducing an estimate of said change from an averaging-based calculation on the ratios deduced for said plurality of OFDM sub-carriers.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the shift in the operating state comprises a change in an amplification gain imposed by at least one of the transmitter and the receiver.

7. A method according to claim 6 , wherein said adjusting step comprises estimating said change by:

a) for each of a plurality of OFDM sub-carriers:

i) providing a first channel estimate of that sub-carrier for the first OFDM frame;

ii) providing a second channel estimate of that sub-carrier for the second OFDM frame; and

iii) calculating the ratio of the first and second channel estimates for that sub-carrier; and

b) deducing an estimate of said change from an averaging-based calculation on the ratios deduced for said plurality of OFDM sub-carriers.