Punctured serial concatenated convolutional coding system and method for low-earth-orbit satellite data communication

• US 6,202,189 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1998
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Teledesic, LLC (Michael J. Larson, MBA)
• Inventors: Million, Samson, Hinedi, Sami M., Griep, Karl R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chung, Phung M.
• Application Number:
  US09/215,790
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 714/786, 714/790, 714/746
• US Class Current: 714/786
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 13/27 using interleaving techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 13/29 combining two or more codes or code structures, e.g. product codes, generalised product codes, concatenated codes, inner and outer codes
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 13/35 Unequal or adaptive error protection, e.g. by providing a different level of protection according to significance of source information or by adapting the coding according to the change of transmission channel characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18532 Arrangements for managing transmission, i.e. for transporting data or a signalling message
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/005 Iterative decoding, including iteration between signal detection and decoding operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0065 Serial concatenated codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0068 by puncturing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0071 Use of interleaving interleaving per se H03M13/27

Abstract

A serial concatenated convolutional coding system for a constellation of low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites for transmitting input data bits of information is disclosed. The input data bits are systematically outer convolutional encoded (30), producing outer encoded data bits and outer encoded parity bits. Some of the bits of the outer encoded parity bits are remove by a puncturer (32), and the remaining outer encoded parity bits and the outer encoded data bits are bit interleaved (34). The bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits are systematically inner convolutional encoded (36) producing concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner data bits and concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits. Some of the bits of the concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits are removed by a puncturer (38), and the remaining concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits and the concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner data bits are combined (40). Upon receipt by a serial concatenated convolutional decoding system (43), the serially concatenated convolutional coded data and parity bits are iteratively decoded to recover the data bits of information of the original signal. During decoding erasures are inserted (46, 52) for the parity bits removed by puncturing. Decoding is accomplished by soft input, soft output (SISO) modules (48, 54).

Claims

1. A coding system for a data communication network, said coding system comprising:

a systematic outer convolutional encoding system for;

(i) systematically outer convolutional encoding input data bits of information to produce outer encoded data bits and outer encoded parity bits;

(ii) puncturing bits of said outer encoded parity bits; and

(iii) bit interleaving said outer encoded data bits and the remaining outer encoded parity bits; and

a systematic inner convolutional encoding system for systematically inner convolutional encoding said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits to produce concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner data bits and concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits.

2. A coding system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coding system includes a serial concatenated convolutional code (SCCC) decoding system for:

(i) soft-input soft-output (SISO) inner decoding an incoming data stream to generate updated bit probabilities of said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits resulting from said bit interleaving and updated bit probabilities of said concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner data bits and said concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits resulting from said inner convolutional encoding;

(ii) de-interleaving said updated bit probabilities of said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits to generate updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and said remaining outer encoded parity bits;

(iii) inserting erasures into said updated bit probabilities of said remaining outer encoded parity bits to replace the parity bits punctured after outer convolutional encoding said input data bits of information;

(iv) SISO outer decoding said updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and the resulting supplemented outer encoded parity bits to generate updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and said outer encoded parity bits resulting from said outer convolutional encoding and updated bit probabilities of the original input data bits of information;

(v) puncturing said updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded parity bits;

(vi) bit interleaving said updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and the updated bit probabilities of the remaining outer encoded parity bits to produce updated bit probabilities of bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits;

(vii) repeating the decoding steps (i) through (vi) for a predetermined number of times using said updated bit probabilities of bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits; and

(viii) repeating the decoding steps (i) through (iv) to generate further updated bit probabilities of the original input data bits of information.

3. A coding system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said systematic outer convolutional encoding system includes:

a systematic outer convolutional encoder for systematically outer convolutional encoding input data bits of information to produce outer encoded data bits and outer encoded parity bits;

a puncturer for puncturing bits of said outer encoded parity bits; and

a bit interleaver for bit interleaving said outer encoded data bits and the remaining outer encoded parity bits.

4. A coding system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said systematic inner convolutional encoding system includes a systematic inner convolutional encoder for inner convolutional encoding said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits to produce concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner data bits and concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits.

5. A coding system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said SCCC decoding system includes:

a SISO inner module for inner decoding an incoming data stream to generate updated bit probabilities of said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits resulting from said bit interleaving and updated bit probabilities of said concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner data bits and said concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits resulting from said inner convolutional encoding;

a de-interleaver for de-interleaving said updated bit probabilities of said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits to generate updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and said remaining outer encoded parity bits;

an inserter for inserting erasures into said updated bit probabilities of said remaining outer encoded parity bits to replace the parity bits punctured after outer convolutional encoding said input data bits of information;

a SISO outer module for outer decoding said updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and the resulting supplemented outer encoded parity bits to generate updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and said outer encoded parity bits resulting from said outer convolutional encoding and updated bit probabilities of the original input data bits of information;

a puncturer for puncturing said updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded parity bits; and

a bit interleaver for bit interleaving said updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and the updated bit probabilities of the remaining outer encoded parity bits to produce updated bit probabilities of bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits.

6. A coding system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said systematic inner convolutional encoding system includes a puncturer for puncturing bits of said concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits after said systematic inner convolutional encoder encodes said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits.

7. A coding system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said SCCC decoding system includes an inserter for inserting erasures into updated bit probabilities of the remaining concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits prior to said SISO inner decoding to replace the parity bits punctured after inner convolutional encoding said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits.

8. A coding system for data communication networks, said coding system comprising:

a systematic outer convolutional encoding system for;

(i) systematically outer convolutional encoding input data bits of information to produce outer encoded data bits and outer encoded parity bits; and

(ii) bit interleaving said outer encoded data bits and said outer encoded parity bits; and

a systematic inner convolutional encoding system for;

(i) systematically inner convolutional encoding said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and parity bits to produce concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner data bits and concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits; and

(ii) puncturing bits of said concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits.

9. A coding system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said coding system includes a serial concatenated convolutional code (SCCC) decoding system for:

(i) inserting erasures into an incoming data stream of updated bit probabilities of said remaining concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits to replace the parity bits punctured after inner convolutional encoding said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and parity bits;

(ii) soft-input soft-output (SISO) inner decoding updated bit probabilities of said concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner data bits and the resulting supplemented concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits to generate updated bit probabilities of said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and parity bits resulting from said bit interleaving;

(iii) de-interleaving said updated bit probabilities of said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and parity bits to generate updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and said outer encoded parity bits;

(iv) SISO outer decoding said updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and said outer encoded parity bits to generate updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and said outer encoded parity bits resulting from said outer convolutional encoding and updated bit probabilities of the original input data bits of information;

(v) bit interleaving said updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and said outer encoded parity bits to produce updated bit probabilities of said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and parity bits;

(vi) repeating the decoding steps (ii) through (v) for a predetermined number of times using said updated bit probabilities of said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and parity bits; and

(vii) repeating the decoding steps (ii) through (iv) to generate further updated bit probabilities of the original input data bits of information.

10. A coding system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said systematic outer convolutional encoding system includes:

a systematic outer convolutional encoder for outer encoding input data bits of information to produce outer encoded data bits and outer encoded parity bits; and

a bit interleaver for bit interleaving said outer encoded data bits and said outer encoded parity bits.

11. A coding system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said systematic outer convolutional encoding system includes:

a systematic inner convolutional encoder for inner encoding said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and parity bits to produce concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner data bits and concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits; and

a puncturer for puncturing bits of said concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits.

12. A coding system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said SCCC decoding system includes:

an inserter for inserting erasures into an incoming data stream of updated bit probabilities of said remaining concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits to replace the parity bits punctured after inner convolutional encoding said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and parity bits;

a SISO inner module for inner decoding updated bit probabilities of said concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner data bits and the resulting supplemented concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits to generate updated bit probabilities of said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and parity bits resulting from said bit interleaving;

a de-interleaver for de-interleaving said updated bit probabilities of said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and parity bits to generate updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and said outer encoded parity bits;

a SISO outer module for outer decoding said updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and said outer encoded parity bits to generate updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and said outer encoded parity bits resulting from said outer convolutional encoding and updated bit probabilities of the original input data bits of information; and

a bit interleaver for bit interleaving said updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and said outer encoded parity bits to produce updated bit probabilities of said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and parity bits.

13. A coding system for a data communication network, said coding system comprising:

a serial concatenated convolutional code (SCCC) encoding system for;

(i) systematically outer convolutional encoding input data bits of information to produce outer encoded data bits and outer encoded parity bits;

(ii) puncturing bits of said outer encoded parity bits;

(iii) bit interleaving said outer encoded data bits and the remaining outer encoded parity bits;

(iv) systematically inner convolutional encoding said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits to produce concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner data bits and concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits; and

(v) puncturing bits of said concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits.

an SCCC decoding system for;

(i) inserting erasures into an incoming data stream of updated bit probabilities of said remaining concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits to replace the parity bits punctured after inner convolutional encoding said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits;

(ii) soft-input soft-output (SISO) inner decoding updated bit probabilities of said concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner data bits and the resulting supplemented concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits to generate updated bit probabilities of said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits resulting from said bit interleaving;

(iii) de-interleaving said updated bit probabilities of said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits to generate updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and said remaining outer encoded parity bits;

(iv) inserting erasures into said updated bit probabilities of said remaining outer encoded parity bits to replace the parity bits punctured after outer convolutional encoding said input data bits of information;

(v) SISO outer decoding said updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and the resulting supplemented outer encoded parity bits to generate updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data and parity bits resulting from said outer convolutional encoding and updated bit probabilities of the original input data bits of information;

(vi) puncturing said updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded parity bits;

(vii) bit interleaving said updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and the remaining outer encoded parity bits to produce updated bit probabilities of bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits;

(viii) repeating SCCC decoding steps (ii) through (vii) for a predetermined number of times using said updated bit probabilities of said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits; and

(ix) repeating SCCC decoding steps (ii) through (v) to generate further updated bit probabilities of the original input data bits of information.

14. A coding system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said SCCC encoding system includes:

a systematic outer convolutional encoder for outer encoding input data bits of information to produce outer encoded data bits and outer encoded parity bits;

a puncturer for puncturing bits of said outer encoded parity bits;

a bit interleaver for bit interleaving said outer encoded data bits and the remaining outer encoded parity bits;

a systematic inner convolutional encoder for inner encoding said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits to produce concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner data bits and concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits; and

a puncturer for puncturing bits of said concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits.

15. A coding system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said SCCC decoding system includes:

an inserter for inserting erasures into an incoming data stream of updated bit probabilities of said remaining concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits to replace the parity bits punctured after inner convolutional encoding said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits;

a SISO inner module for inner decoding updated bit probabilities of said concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner data bits and the resulting supplemented concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits to generate updated bit probabilities of said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits resulting from said bit interleaving;

a de-interleaver for de-interleaving said updated bit probabilities of said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits to generate updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and said remaining outer encoded parity bits;

an inserter for inserting erasures into said updated bit probabilities of said remaining outer encoded parity bits to replace the parity bits punctured after outer convolutional encoding said input data bits of information;

a SISO outer module for outer decoding said updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and the resulting supplemented outer encoded parity bits to generate updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data and parity bits resulting from said outer convolutional encoding and updated bit probabilities of the original input data bits of information;

a puncturer for puncturing said updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded parity bits; and

a bit interleaver for bit interleaving said updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and the remaining outer encoded parity bits to produce updated bit probabilities of bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits.

16. A coding method for a data communication network, said method comprising:

(i) systematically outer convolutional encoding input data bits of information to produce outer encoded data bits and outer encoded parity bits;

(ii) puncturing bits of said outer encoded parity bits;

(iii) bit interleaving said outer encoded data bits and the remaining outer encoded parity bits; and

(iv) systematically inner convolutional encoding said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits to produce concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner data bits and concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits.

17. The coding method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said method includes:

(i) soft-input soft-output (SISO) inner decoding an incoming data stream to generate updated bit probabilities of said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits resulting from said bit interleaving and updated bit probabilities of said concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner data bits and said concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits resulting from said inner convolutional encoding;

(ii) de-interleaving said updated bit probabilities of said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits to generate updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and said remaining outer encoded parity bits;

(iii) inserting erasures into said updated bit probabilities of said remaining outer encoded parity bits to replace the parity bits punctured after outer convolutional encoding said input data bits of information;

(iv) SISO outer decoding said updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and the resulting supplemented outer encoded parity bits to generate updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and said outer encoded parity bits resulting from said outer convolutional encoding and updated bit probabilities of the original input data bits of information;

(v) puncturing said updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded parity bits;

(vi) bit interleaving said updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and the updated bit probabilities of the remaining outer encoded parity bits to produce updated bit probabilities of bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits;

(vii) repeating the decoding steps (i) through (vi) for a predetermined number of times using said updated bit probabilities of bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits; and

(viii) repeating the decoding steps (i) through (iv) to generate further updated bit probabilities of the original input data bits of information.

18. The coding method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said method includes puncturing bits of said concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits after systematically inner convolutional encoding said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and remaining parity bits.

19. The coding method as claimed in claim 18, wherein erasures are inserted into updated bit probabilities of the remaining concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits prior to SISO inner decoding the updated bit probabilities of said concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner data bits and the resulting supplemented concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits.

20. A coding method for a data communication network, said method comprising:

(i) systematically outer convolutional encoding input data bits of information to produce outer encoded data bits and outer encoded parity bits;

(ii) bit interleaving said outer encoded data bits and said outer encoded parity bits;

(iii) systematically inner convolutional encoding said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and parity bits to produce concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner data bits and concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits; and

(iv) puncturing bits of said concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits.

21. The coding method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said method includes:

(i) inserting erasures into an incoming data stream of updated bit probabilities of the remaining concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits to replace the parity bits punctured after inner convolutional encoding said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and parity bits;

(ii) soft-input soft-output (SISO) inner decoding updated bit probabilities of said concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner data bits and the resulting supplemented concatenated coded, bit interleaved inner parity bits to generate updated bit probabilities of said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and parity bits resulting from said bit interleaving;

(iii) de-interleaving said updated bit probabilities of said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and parity bits to generate updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and said outer encoded parity bits;

(iv) SISO outer decoding said updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and said outer encoded parity bits to generate updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and said outer encoded parity bits resulting from said outer convolutional encoding and updated bit probabilities of the original input data bits of information;

(v) bit interleaving said updated bit probabilities of said outer encoded data bits and said outer encoded parity bits to produce updated bit probabilities of said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and parity bits;

(vi) repeating the decoding steps (ii) through (v) for a predetermined number of times using said updated bit probabilities of said bit interleaved, outer encoded data and parity bits; and

(vii) repeating the decoding steps (ii) through (iv) to generate further updated bit probabilities of the original input data bits of information.