The problem of canonical forms of implicit descriptor systems under re
stricted system equivalence is considered. It is shown that the canoni
cal form is directly related to the echelon form of the autoregressive
matrix inducing the external behavior of the system. The proposed can
onical form is a generalization of the Popov form, and is also valid f
or singular systems, under transfer equivalence. (C) 1997 Elsevier Sci
ence Ltd.