Bits-to-symbols mapping for amplitude modulation

Abstract

Architectures for inter-converting bitstreams and symbol streams of PAM and/or QAM constellations of different sizes that are not base-2 integers. Some of such constellations may be Gray-coded, and the constellation mapping may be performed to achieve an equiprobable distribution of different constellation symbols. Some embodiments may be compatible with FEC schemes. In an example embodiment, a transmitter DSP may employ a conventional constellation mapper preceded by an electronic encoder programmed to exclude some constellation-symbol labels from the bitstream applied to the mapper. In different embodiments, the electronic encoder may employ a CCDM and/or a long-division operation to select some amplitudes of the constellation and to exclude others. At least some embodiments are beneficially capable of achieving a smaller gap to the Shannon limit than comparable conventional solutions.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.