Frequency hopping interference detection using decoder codeword metrics

A frequency hopping communication system comprising:

• an FEC decoder;
• and
• a channel metric processor;
• wherein:
• the FEC decoder is configured to:
• decode a plurality of codewords using a particular error control coding method, each of the plurality of codewords comprising portions received from a plurality of channels in the frequency hopping channel system;
• for each decoded codeword, generate one or more codeword metrics based on cost of correcting errors during decoding of the plurality of codewords;
• the channel metric processor is configured to:
• infer one or more channel metrics of the plurality of channels based on the one or more codeword metrics of the plurality of codewords;
• and
• based on the inferred one or more channel metrics, reduce a reliability metric of a particular channel or cause the FEC decoder to ignore incoming symbols received via a particular channel.

A method for detecting interference in a particular channel of a plurality of frequency hopping channels based on codeword metrics obtained during decoding of codewords, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of symbols via the plurality of frequency hopping channels;
• converting the plurality of symbols into a plurality of codewords;
• decoding the plurality of codewords based on a particular error control coding method;
• for each decoded codeword, obtain one or more codeword metrics based on errors corrected during decoding of the codeword;
• for each particular channel of the plurality of frequency hopping channels,
• inferring one or more channel metrics of the particular channel based on (1) one or more symbol metrics associated with quality of symbols that were transmitted via the particular channel, or (2) the codeword metrics associated with messages that were at least partially transmitted via the particular channel;
• determining whether interference is present in the particular channel based on the inferred one or more channel metrics;
• and
• in response to determining that the interference is present in the particular channel, reducing a frequency of using the particular channel in future communications for a predetermined period.