Method for the estimation of OFDM parameters by adaptation of covariance

A method of estimating at least one modulation parameter of an OFDM signal, said signal being sampled during a time window in order to provide a sequence of samples, said method comprising:

• (a) grouping together consecutive samples of said sequence according to a tested value ({tilde over (θ)}) of said parameter, in order to form a plurality of vectors;
• (b) estimating a covariance matrix ({circumflex over (R)}yy({tilde over (θ)})) of the vectors;
• (c) calculating a theoretical covariance matrix (Ryy({tilde over (θ)})) that would be obtained using an OFDM signal of which said modulation parameter would have said tested value;
• (d) measuring a distance between the covariance matrix and the theoretical covariance matrix;
• and
• iterating the steps (a), (b), (c) and (d), wherein the estimated value of the parameter is that achieving a shortest distance in the step (d).