Method and apparatus for joint equalization and decoding of multidimensional codes transmitted over multiple symbol durations

• US 8,635,516 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2011
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Azadet, Kameran, Haratsch, Erich F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Torres, Joseph D
• Application Number:
  US13/302,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20120128056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 714/792, 714/794
• US Class Current: 714/794
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 13/256 with trellis coding, e.g. with convolutional codes and TCM
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 13/39 Sequence estimation, i.e. using statistical methods for the reconstruction of the original codes
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 13/3961 Arrangements of methods for branch or transition metric calculation
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 13/4107 implementing add, compare, select [ACS] operations
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 13/6331 Error control coding in combination with equalisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/03006 Arrangements for removing intersymbol interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/03305 Joint sequence estimation and interference removal joint detection of several desired signals H04L25/03331

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for performing joint equalization and decoding of multidimensional codes transmitted over multiple symbol durations. An RSSE scheme is disclosed that cancels the intrasymbol interference caused by other symbol components within the same multidimensional code symbol. The disclosed RSSE technique for multidimensional codes applies where the number of trellis code dimensions exceeds the number of channels. The disclosed RSSE decoder computes the intersymbol interference caused by previously decoded multidimensional code symbols and subtracts the intersymbol interference from the received signal. In addition, a branch metrics unit compensates for the intrasymbol interference caused by other symbol components within the same multidimensional code symbol.

Claims

1. A system for decoding a multidimensional code, wherein a multidimensional code symbol comprises a number of symbol components of lower dimensionality, said system comprising:

means for compensating for intersymbol interference caused by previously transmitted multidimensional code symbols by calculating intersymbol interference estimates based on one or more multidimensional code symbols;

means for compensating for intrasymbol interference caused by symbol components within a current multidimensional code symbol;

means for calculating intrasymbol interference estimates based on possible data symbol values; and

means for calculating branch metrics based on a received signal and said intersymbol interference and intrasymbol interference estimates.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein multidimensional code symbols are transmitted over more than one symbol interval that is used to transmit one of said symbol components.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said multidimensional code symbol comprises a number of transmitted symbol components of lower dimensionality that exceeds a number of available channels.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for determining a best surviving path into a trellis state.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said multidimensional code is 4D-TCM.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for calculating a metric for an initial symbol component using survivor symbols from a corresponding state to account for intersymbol interference, wherein said metric is used for the calculation of a branch metric.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising means for calculating a metric for a subsequent symbol component using survivor symbols from a corresponding state to account for intersymbol interference and using at least one data estimate to account for intrasymbol interference.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising means for calculating a combined metric by combining said metric for said initial symbol component and said metric for said subsequent symbol component.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising means for computing a branch metric for a transition in a trellis using said combined metric.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for calculating an intersymbol interference-free estimate using at least one survivor symbol from a survivor path.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said intersymbol interference-free estimate is computed for a first and a subsequent symbol interval.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising means for calculating an intersymbol interference and intrasymbol interference-free estimate based on said intersymbol interference-free estimate for said subsequent symbol interval and a data symbol that was determined based on said intersymbol interference-free estimate for said first symbol interval.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising means for computing a distance metric for said first symbol interval based on said intersymbol interference-free estimate for said first symbol interval.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising means for computing a distance metric for said subsequent symbol interval based on said intersymbol interference and intrasymbol interference-free estimate.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising means for computing a branch metric for a transition in a trellis based on said distance metrics for said first and subsequent symbol intervals.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for computing the best path into a state in said trellis.

17. A system for decoding a multidimensional code, wherein a multidimensional code symbol comprises a number of symbol components of lower dimensionality, comprising:

a decision feedback unit for compensating for intersymbol interference caused by previously transmitted multidimensional code symbols by calculating intersymbol interference estimates based on one or more multidimensional code symbols;

a branch metrics unit for compensating for intrasymbol interference caused by symbol components within a current multidimensional code symbol; and

at least one hardware device operative to;

calculate intrasymbol interference estimates based on possible data symbol values; and

calculate branch metrics based on a received signal and said intersymbol interference and intrasymbol interference estimates.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said multidimensional code symbol comprises a number of transmitted symbol components of lower dimensionality that exceeds a number of available channels.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein multidimensional code symbols are transmitted over more than one symbol interval that is used to transmit one of said symbol components.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least one hardware device is further operative to determine a best surviving path into a trellis state.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein said multidimensional code is 4D-TCM.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least one hardware device is further operative to calculate a metric for an initial symbol component using survivor symbols from a corresponding state to account for intersymbol interference, wherein said metric is used for the calculation of a branch metric.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said at least one hardware device is further operative to calculate a metric for a subsequent symbol component using survivor symbols from a corresponding state to account for intersymbol interference and using at least one data estimate to account for intrasymbol interference.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said at least one hardware device is further operative to calculate a combined metric by combining said metric for said initial symbol component and said metric for said subsequent symbol component.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said at least one hardware device is further operative to compute a branch metric for a transition in a trellis using said combined metric.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least one hardware device is further operative to calculate an intersymbol interference-free estimate using at least one survivor symbol from a survivor path.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said intersymbol interference-free estimate is computed for a first and a subsequent symbol interval.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said at least one hardware device is further operative to calculate an intersymbol interference and intrasymbol interference-free estimate based on said intersymbol interference-free estimate for said subsequent symbol interval and a data symbol that was determined based on said intersymbol interference-free estimate for said first symbol interval.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein said at least one hardware device is further operative to compute a distance metric for said first symbol interval based on said intersymbol interference-free estimate for said first symbol interval.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said at least one hardware device is further operative to compute a distance metric for said subsequent symbol interval based on said intersymbol interference and intrasymbol interference-free estimate.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein said at least one hardware device is further operative to compute a branch metric for a transition in a trellis based on said distance metrics for said first and subsequent symbol intervals.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein said at least one hardware device is further operative to compute the best path into a state in said trellis.