Method and system for reconfigurable channel coding

• US 8,249,135 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2010
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cornami, Inc.
• Original Assignee: QST Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Scheuermann, W. James
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Don N
• Application Number:
  US12/860,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20110002409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 375/219, 375/222, 375/223, 455/418, 455/552
• US Class Current: 375/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0043 Realisations of complexity reduction techniques, e.g. use of look-up tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0054 Maximum-likelihood or sequential decoding, e.g. Viterbi, Fano, ZJ algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0059 Convolutional codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/75 Media network packet handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/756 adapting media to device capabilities

Abstract

Aspects of a reconfigurable system for providing channel coding in a wireless communication device are described. The aspects include a plurality of computation elements for performing channel coding operations and memory for storing programs to direct each of the plurality of computation elements. A controller controls the plurality of computation elements and stored programs to achieve channel coding operations in accordance with a plurality of wireless communication standards. The plurality of computation elements include a data reordering element, a linear feedback shift register (LFSR) element, a convolutional encoder element, and a Viterbi decoder clement.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable system for providing channel coding in a wireless communication device comprising:

a plurality of computation elements for performing channel coding operations, wherein the plurality of computation elements comprises at least three computational elements selected from the group consisting of a data reordering element, a linear feedback shift register (LFSR) element, a convolutional encoder element and a convolutional decoder element; and

a controller for reconfigurably controlling the plurality of computation elements to achieve channel coding operations in accordance with a plurality of wireless communication standards.

2. The reconfigurable system of claim 1 further comprising memory for storing programs, and wherein the stored programs are for reconfiguring the plurality of computational elements for the channel coding operations.

3. The reconfigurable system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of computation elements comprises memory for storing programs, and wherein the stored programs are for executing commands for the channel coding operations.

4. The reconfigurable system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of computation elements comprises a plurality of polynomial generators that further comprise a configuration register, an AND logic means, and an exclusive-OR logic means.

5. The reconfigurable system of claim 1 wherein the Viterbi decoder element further comprises a coupled configuration of a counter, a codeword and punctures lookup table, a register, recode logic, an address generator, path metrics memory, state registers, plus/minus adjusters, adders, a selector, and a comparator.

6. The reconfigurable system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wireless communications standards comprises at least two wireless communications standards selected from the group consisting of TDMA and CDMA.

7. The reconfigurable system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of computational elements are interconnected.

8. The reconfigurable system of claim 7, wherein the interconnection of the plurality of computational elements allows at least one of the plurality of computational elements to be used arbitrarily at different points within at least one of a transmit path and a receive path.

9. The reconfigurable system of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of computational elements performs a function, and wherein the plurality of computational elements are one of a plurality of types, and wherein multiple instances of computational elements that are the same type are used for different functions within at least one of a transmit path and a receive path.

10. The reconfigurable system of claim 7, wherein the interconnection allows the plurality of computational elements to be used as a subset of a larger function.

11. The reconfigurable system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of computational elements performs tasks to achieve the channel coding operations in accordance with the plurality of wireless communication standards at the same time.

12. The reconfigurable system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of computational elements is independently configured to provide channel coding operations.

13. The reconfigurable system of claim 12, wherein the at least one of the plurality of computational elements is controlled by at least one of data provided, an internally loaded configuration, and internally loaded instructions.

14. The reconfigurable system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of computational elements is independently programmed to provide channel coding operations.

15. The reconfigurable system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of computational elements is controlled such that at least two of the following functions are controlled:

an initial function state;

an initial function to be performed;

one or more functions to be performed;

a length of block to be worked on or continuous operation;

end conditions to detect the end of a block; and

one or more end functions to be performed at the end of a block.

16. The reconfigurable system of claim 15, wherein the at least one computational element performs one selected from the group consisting of:

two or more functions within a single transmitter chain or receiver chain;

one or more functions within a single transmitter chain and one or more functions within a single receiver chain;

two or more functions within a multi-standard transmitter wherein both standards are in simultaneous operation;

two or more functions within a multi-standard transmitter wherein both standards are in rapid succession operation; and

channel coding operations on two or more channels of at least one of transmission data and reception data.

17. The reconfigurable system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of computational elements performs a function, and wherein the function is altered by incrementally changing only a portion of the configuration or instructions.

18. The reconfigurable system of claim 1 wherein the a data reorder element comprises:

means for accepting and storing an incoming data stream in a word oriented format;

means for selecting from the stored data stream in an order different from the order of storage;

means for determining the selection order of extraction by use of a look-up table in which the order of selection is arbitrarily programmed;

means for outputting a data stream in a word oriented format; and

means for releasing and reusing those portions of the stored input memory once the values are consumed by the output process.

19. The reconfigurable system of claim 1, wherein the data reordering element comprises:

means for accepting and storing an incoming data stream in a word oriented format;

means for storing an incoming data stream in an order different than it is received;

means for determining a selection order of storage using at a look-up table in which the order of selection is arbitrarily programmed;

means for outputting the stored data in a word oriented format; and

means for releasing and reusing those potions of the stored input memory once the values are consumed by the output process.

20. The reconfigurable system of claim 1, wherein the LSFR element comprises:

means for generating a variety of polynomials based on the contents of a register using an array of selectors and exclusive-or gates;

means for optionally accepting an incoming data stream in a word oriented format;

means for updating the register based on at least one of;

the one or more polynomials generated and the register contents; and

the one or more polynomials generated, the register contents and the optional data stream;

means for outputting data in a word oriented format based upon at least one of;

the one or more polynomials generated;

the one or more polynomials generated output exclusive-or'"'"'d with the optional input stream; and

the contents of the register; and

means for initializing the contents of the register to a programmable value.

21. A method for providing channel coding in a wireless communication device comprising:

selecting one of a plurality of wireless communication standards; and

reconfigurably controlling a plurality of computation elements to achieve channel coding operations in accordance with the selected wireless communication standard, wherein the plurality of computation elements comprises at least three computational elements selected from the group consisting of a data reordering element, a linear feedback shift register (LFSR) element, a convolutional encoder element and a convolutional decoder element.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising selecting a mode of the selected one of the plurality of wireless communication standards.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein selecting one of the plurality of wireless communication standards comprises:

receiving a signal associated with one of the plurality of wireless communication standards; and

identifying the one of the plurality of wireless communication standards based on the coding of the signal.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising mapping the bit-oriented operations to the byte-oriented memory and plurality of computation elements.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the plurality of wireless communications standards comprises at least two wireless communications standards selected from the group consisting of TDMA and CDMA.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the plurality of computational elements are interconnected.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the plurality of computational elements are used arbitrarily at different points within at least one of a transmit path and a receive path.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the number of elements and method of interconnection between the plurality of computational elements allows multiple instances of the same element type to be used for different functions within at least one of a transmit path and a receive path.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the plurality of computational elements are used as a subset of a larger function.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising controlling at least one of the plurality of computational elements by at least one of data provided, internally loaded configuration, internally loaded instructions.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein at least one of the plurality of computational elements performs tasks to achieve the channel coding operations in accordance with the plurality of wireless communication standards at the same time.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein at least one of the computational elements performs one selected from the group consisting of:

two or more functions within a single transmitter or receiver chain;

one or more functions within a single transmitter and one or more functions within a single receiver chain;

two or more functions within a multi-standard transmitter wherein both standards are in simultaneous operation;

two or more functions within a multi-standard transmitter wherein both standards are in rapid succession operation; and

channel coding operations on two or more channels of at least one of transmission data and reception data.

33. The method of claim 21, further comprising independently configuring at least one of the plurality of computational elements to provide channel coding operations.

34. The method of claim 21, further comprising independently programming at least one of the plurality of computational elements to provide channel coding operations.

35. The method of claim 21, further comprising controlling at least one of the plurality of computational elements such that at least two of the following functions are controlled:

an initial function state;

an initial function to be performed;

one or more functions to be performed;

a length of block to be worked on or continuous operation;

end conditions to detect the end of a block; and

one or more end functions to be performed at the end of a block.

36. The method of claim 21, further comprising incrementally changing only that portion of the configuration or instructions that needs to be changed to alter a function performed by at least one of the plurality of computational elements.

37. A reconfigurable system for providing channel coding in a wireless communication device comprising:

a plurality of computation elements for performing channel coding operations, wherein the plurality of computation elements comprises at least three computational elements selected from the group consisting of a data reordering element, a linear feedback shift register (LFSR) element, a convolutional encoder element and a convolutional decoder element; and

a controller for reconfigurably controlling the plurality of computation elements to achieve channel coding operations in accordance with a plurality of wireless communication modes within a wireless communication standard.

38. The reconfigurable system of claim 37 further comprising memory for storing programs, and wherein the stored programs are for reconfiguring the plurality of computational elements for the channel coding operations.

39. The reconfigurable system of claim 37 wherein each of the plurality of computation elements comprises memory for storing programs, and wherein the stored programs are for executing commands for the channel coding operations.

40. The reconfigurable system of claim 37 wherein the plurality of computation elements comprises a plurality of polynomial generators.

41. The reconfigurable system of claim 37 wherein the Viterbi decoder element further comprises a coupled configuration of a counter, a codeword and punctures look-up table, a register, recode logic, an address generator, path metrics memory, state registers, plus/minus adjusters, adders, a selector, and a comparator.

42. The reconfigurable system of claim 37, wherein the wireless communications standard is selected from the group consisting of TDMA and CDMA.

43. The reconfigurable system of claim 37, wherein the plurality of computational elements are interconnected.

44. The reconfigurable system of claim 43, wherein the plurality of computational elements are used arbitrarily at different points within at least one of a transmit path and a receive path.

45. The reconfigurable system of claim 43, wherein the plurality of computational elements each perform a function, and wherein the plurality of computational elements each is one of a plurality of types, and wherein multiple instances of a computational element type is used for different functions within at least one of a transmit path and a receive path.

46. The reconfigurable system of claim 43, wherein the plurality of computational elements are used as a subset of a larger function.

47. The reconfigurable system of claim 44, wherein the at least one of the plurality of computational elements is controlled by at least one of data provided, an internally loaded configuration, and internally loaded instructions.

48. The reconfigurable system of claim 44, wherein at least one of the plurality of computational elements performs tasks to achieve the channel coding operations in accordance with the plurality of wireless communication standards at the same time.

49. The reconfigurable system of claim 37, wherein each of the plurality of computational elements is independently configured to provide channel coding operations.

50. The reconfigurable system of claim 37, wherein each of the plurality of computational elements is independently programmed to provide channel coding operations.

51. The reconfigurable system of claim 37, wherein the at least one of the plurality of computational elements is controlled such that at least two of the following functions are controlled:

an initial function state;

an initial function to be performed;

one or more functions to be performed;

a length of block to be worked on or continuous operation;

end conditions to detect the end of a block; and

one or more end functions to be performed at the end of a block.

52. The reconfigurable system of claim 48, wherein the at least one of the plurality of computational elements performs one selected from the group consisting of:

two or more functions within a single transmitter or receiver chain;

one or more functions within a single transmitter and one or more functions within a single receiver chain;

two or more functions within a multi-mode transmitter wherein both modes are in simultaneous operation;

two or more functions within a multi-mode transmitter wherein both modes are in rapid succession operation; and

channel coding operations on two or more channels of at least one of transmission and reception data.

53. The reconfigurable system of claim 37, wherein the plurality of computational elements each perform a function, and wherein the function is altered by incrementally changing only a portion of the configuration or instructions that needs to be changed.

54. The reconfigurable system of claim 37, wherein the a data reorder element comprises:

means for accepting and storing an incoming data stream in a word oriented format;

means for selecting from the stored data stream in an order different from the order of storage;

means for determining the selection order of extraction by use of a look-up table in which the order of selection is arbitrarily programmed;

means for outputting a data stream in a word oriented format; and

means for releasing and reusing those portions of the stored input memory once the values are consumed by the output process.

55. The reconfigurable system of claim 37, wherein the data reordering element comprises:

means for accepting and storing an incoming data stream in a word oriented format;

means for storing an incoming data stream in an order different than it is received;

means for determining a selection order of storage using a look-up table in which the order of selection is arbitrarily programmed;

means for outputting the stored data in a word oriented format; and

means for releasing and reusing those potions of the stored input memory once the values are consumed by the output process.

56. The reconfigurable system of claim 37, wherein the LSFR element comprises:

means for generating a variety of polynomials based on the contents of a register;

means for optionally accepting an incoming data stream in word oriented format;

means for updating the register based on at least one of;

the one or more polynomials generated and the register contents; and

the one or more polynomials generated, the register contents and the optional data stream;

means for outputting data in a word oriented format based upon at least one of;

the one or more polynomials generated;

the one or more polynomials generated output exclusive-or'"'"'d with the optional input stream; and

the contents of the register; and

means for initializing the contents of the register to a programmable value.

57. A method for providing channel coding in a wireless communication device comprising:

selecting one of a plurality of wireless communication modes within a wireless communication standards; and

reconfigurably controlling a plurality of computation elements for performing channel coding operations to achieve channel coding operations in accordance with the selected wireless communication mode, wherein the plurality of computation elements comprises at least three computational elements selected from the group consisting of a data reordering element, a linear feedback shift register (LFSR) element, a convolutional encoder element and a convolutional decoder element.

58. The method of claim 57, further comprising selecting a mode of the selected one of the plurality of wireless communication standards.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein selecting one of the plurality of wireless communication standards comprises:

receiving a signal associated with one of the plurality of wireless communication standards; and

identifying the one of the plurality of wireless communication standards based on the coding of the signal.

60. The method of claim 57, wherein the wireless communications standard is selected from the group consisting of TDMA and CDMA.

61. The method of claim 57, wherein the plurality of computational elements are interconnected.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the plurality of computational elements are used arbitrarily at different points within at least one of a transmit path and a receive path.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein the plurality of computational elements each perform a function, and wherein the plurality of computational elements are one of a plurality of types, and wherein multiple instances of the same type are used for different functions within at least one of a transmit path and a receive path.

64. The method of claim 61, wherein the plurality of computational elements are used as a subset of a larger function.

65. The method of claim 61, further comprising controlling at least one of the plurality of computational elements by at least one of data provided, an internally loaded configuration, and internally loaded instructions.

66. The method of claim 61, wherein at least one of the computational elements is timeshared by two of the plurality of wireless communication modes.

67. The method of claim 61, wherein at least one of the computational elements performs one selected from the group consisting of:

two or more functions within a single transmitter or receiver chain;

one or more functions within a single transmitter and one or more functions within a single receiver chain;

two or more functions within a multi-mode transmitter wherein both modes are in simultaneous operation;

two or more functions within a multi-mode transmitter wherein both modes are in rapid succession operation; and

channel coding operations on two or more channels of at least one of transmission data and reception data.

68. The method of claim 57, further comprising independently configuring at least one of the plurality of computational elements to provide channel coding operations.

69. The method of claim 57, further comprising independently programming at least one of the plurality of computational elements to provide channel coding operations.

70. The method of claim 57, further comprising controlling at least one of the plurality of computational elements such that at least two of the following functions are controlled:

an initial function state;

an initial function to be performed;

one or more functions to be performed;

a length of block to be worked on or continuous operation;

end conditions to detect the end of a block; and

one or more end functions to be performed at the end of a block.

71. The method of claim 57, further comprising incrementally changing only a portion of the configuration or instructions that needs to be changed to alter a function performed by at least one of the plurality of computational elements.