Generalised FSMC model for radio channels with correlated fading

Finite-state Markov channel (FSMC) models are useful for analysing radio channels with nonindependent fading, which give rise to bursty channel errors. In the paper the FSMC model is constructed by partitioning the dynamic range of the fade amplitude into finite number of intervals and representing each interval as a 'state' in the model. Transitions between these channel states thus characterise the physical fading process. Based on the Nakagami-m distribution, a new analytical formulation for the state transition probability is presented and validated for channels with arbitrary degrees of time-interleaving. The resultant FSMC model is shown to be applicable to a wide range of practical fading channels, including diversity-combined channels and multicarrier channels.