Novel algorithms for block equalization of M-ary phase shift keying (PSK) s
ignals transmitted over multipath fading channels in the presence of an int
erferent cochannel signal are introduced and analyzed. The algorithms explo
it the intrinsic statistical properties of cochannel interference (CCI) in
order to mitigate its effects. Both linear and decision feedback equalizers
(DFE's) are derived under the assumption that the overall channel impulse
responses of both the useful and the inteferent signal are known, Simulatio
n results show that: a) whereas zero-forcing block equalizers yield a large
noise enhancement effect, a minimum mean-square block DFE (MMSE-BDFE) can
efficiently compensate for the distortion in the useful channel and reduce
the effect of CCI at the same time and b) MMSE-BDFE's outperform convention
al DFE's, at least in the idealized conditions of our analysis.