Among all the techniques combining multi-carrier modulation and spread spectrum, the multi-carrier code division multiple access (MC-CDMA) system is by far the most widely studied. In this paper, we present the performance of the MC-CDMA system associated with key single-user detection techniques. We are interested in problems related to identification and equalization of mobile radio channels, using the kernel method in Hilbert space with a reproducing kernel, and a linear adaptive algorithm, for MC-CDMA systems. In this context, we tested the efficiency of these algorithms, considering practical frequency selective fading channels, called broadband radio access network (BRAN), standardized for MC-CDMA systems. As far as the equalization problem encountered after channel identification is concerned, we use the orthogonality restoration combination (ORC) and the minimum mean square error (MMSE) equalizer techniques to correct the distortion of the channel. Simulation results demonstrate that the kernel algorithm is efficient for practical channels.

In this paper, we discuss the problem of channel identification by using eight algorithms. The first three algorithms are based on higher-order cumulants, the next three algorithms are based on binary output measurement, and the last two algorithms are based on reproducing kernels. The principal objective of this paper is to study the performance of the presented algorithms in different situations, such as with different sizes of the data input or different signal-to-noise ratios. The presented algorithms are applied to the estimation of the channel parameters of the broadband radio access network (BRAN). The simulation results confirm that the presented algorithms are able to estimate the channel parameters with different accuracies, and each algorithm has its advantages and disadvantages for a given situation, such as for a given $SNR$ and data input. Finally, this study provides an idea of which algorithms can be selected in a given situation. The study presented in this paper demonstrates that the cumulant-based algorithms are more adequate if the data inputs are not available (blind identification), but the kernel- and binary-measurement-based methods are more adequate if the noise is not important ($SNR\ge 16$ dB).

In recent years, kernel methods have provided an important alternative solution, as they offer a simple way of expanding linear algorithms to cover the non-linear mode as well. In this paper, we propose a novel recursive kernel approach allowing to identify the finite impulse response (FIR) in non-linear systems, with binary value output observations. This approach employs a kernel function to perform implicit data mapping. The transformation is performed by changing the basis of the data in a high-dimensional feature space in which the relations between the different variables become linearized. To assess the performance of the proposed approach, we have compared it with two other algorithms, such as proportionate normalized least-meansquare (PNLMS) and improved PNLMS (IPNLMS). For this purpose, we used three measurable frequency-selective fading radio channels, known as the broadband radio access network (BRAN C, BRAN D, and BRAN E), which are standardized by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), and one theoretical frequency selective channel, known as the Macchi’s channel. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm offers better results, even in high noise environments, and generates a lower mean square error (MSE) compared with PNLMS and IPNLMS.