Apparatus and method for detecting mutually interfering information streams

A method of performing symbol detection on a plurality of mutually interfering information streams transmitted in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• receiving an input signal comprising a plurality of mutually interfering information streams;
• detecting a transmitted symbol for each of the plurality of mutually interfering information streams by searching for a vector solution to an optimization problem;
• and
• classifying the whole detected symbol as either reliable or unreliable, such that all bits contained within the detected symbol are classified as reliable in dependence on the detected symbol being classified as reliable, and all bits within the detected symbol are classified as unreliable in dependence on the detected symbol being classified as unreliable,
• wherein said detected symbol is only classified in response to one or more conditions being fulfilled, and
• wherein said one or more conditions includes a preset latency limit, such that said detected symbol is only classified in response to the search for the vector solution exceeding the preset latency limit.

Apparatus for performing symbol detection on a plurality of mutually interfering information streams transmitted in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

• a first detector configured to receive an input signal comprising a plurality of mutually interfering information streams, and to detect a transmitted symbol for each of the plurality of mutually interfering information streams by searching for a vector solution to an optimization problem;
• and
• a detection evaluation module configured to classify the detected symbol as either reliable or unreliable,
• wherein the detection evaluation module is configured to only classify said detected symbol in response to one or more conditions being fulfilled, and
• wherein said one or more conditions includes a preset latency limit, such that the detection evaluarion module is configured to only classify said detected symbol rewponse to the search for the vector solution exceeding the preset latency limit.