Method and device for decoding a sequence of physical signals, reliability detection unit and viterbi decoding unit

US7085992B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Infineon Technologies AG · DE

Inventors

• Burkhard Becker · Ismaning, DE
• Markus Doetsch · Köniz, CH
• Peter Jung · Munich, DE
• Tideya Kella · Birkenfeld, DE
• Jörg Plechinger · Hersbruck, DE
• Alfredo Ruscitto · Torino, IT

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 24, 2001
• Grant date: Aug 1, 2006
• Expiry date: Nov 4, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H03M13/6502
• WIPO field: Basic communication processes
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method and device for decoding a sequence of physical signals. A Viterbi algorithm is carried out a first time for all physical signals, resulting in a maximum likelihood path, wherein there is one signal value for each physical signal and which has been determined along the entire trellis according to the Viterbi algorithm. A reliability value is determined for each signal value of the maximum likelihood path. The Viterbi algorithm is then carried out a second time with the following steps: selecting one subregion of the trellis, the subregion having a partial initial signal value and a partial end signal value on the maximum likelihood path; determining one further path in that subregion of the trellis which ends at the partial end signal value of the maximum likelihood path; determining each signal value on the further path and comparing same with the corresponding signal value on the maximum likelihood path relating to the same time; depending on the comparison result, the signal value of the maximum likelihood path is allocated the reliability value determined in the previous iteration step or the minimum of this and the reliability value of the partial end signal value; shi…