Generation of polar codes with a variable block length utilizing puncturing

An apparatus configured for polar coding, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory coupled to the processor;
• and
• a transceiver coupled to the processor,
• wherein the processor and the memory are configured to:
• select a puncturing pattern from a first puncturing pattern and a second puncturing pattern, wherein the first puncturing pattern comprises an unknown-bit puncturing scheme in which first punctured bit locations correspond to unknown bits and the second puncturing pattern comprises a known-bit puncturing scheme in which second punctured bit locations correspond to known bits;
• polar code an information block to produce a polar codeword;
• and
• puncture the polar codeword using the selected puncturing pattern to produce a punctured codeword comprising a codeword length other than a power of two.

An apparatus configured for polar coding, the apparatus comprising:

• means for selecting a puncturing pattern from a first puncturing pattern and a second puncturing pattern, wherein the first puncturing pattern comprises an unknown-bit puncturing scheme in which first punctured bit locations correspond to unknown bits and the second puncturing pattern comprises a known-bit puncturing scheme in which second punctured bit locations correspond to known bits;
• means for polar coding an information block to produce a polar codeword;
• and
• means for puncturing the polar codeword using the selected puncturing pattern to produce a punctured codeword comprising a codeword length other than a power of two.