Joint channel estimation and coding for robust progressive image transmissions in fading multipath wireless channels

Multicarrier modulation (MCM) with diversity is a promising technique for multimedia communications over fading multipath wireless channels. In this work, we first investigate the channel estimation problem for the MCM system with multiple transmitter antennas. A model based channel estimation approach is proposed to identify the multiple channels simultaneously. We then apply the model based channel estimation in a joint source and channel matching (JSCM) scheme for the robust progressive image transmission. It is shown that the channel estimation affects not only the image decoding at the receiver but also the rate allocation at the transmitter. It is important to jointly consider the channel estimation and JSCM scheme to improve the quality of image transmission.