Error floor turbo codes

An encoder for encoding information bits comprising:

• first constituent encoder for generating a first set of parity symbols;
• first interleaver for generating first interleaved information bits from said information bits;
• second constituent encoder for generating a second set of party symbols from said first interleaved information bits;
• second interleaver for generating second interleaved information bits from said information bits;
• third constituent encoder for generating a third set of parity bits from said second interleaved information bits,
• wherein at least one constituent encoder, selected from said first constituent encoder, said second constituent encoder and said third constituent encoder, has a greater depth than at least one other constituent encoder selected from said first constituent encoder, said second constituent encoder and said third constituent encoder.

A method for decoding an encoded signal comprising the steps of:

• a) generating a set of receive samples from said signal;
• b) decoding said receive samples according to a first coding scheme, wherein said first coding scheme has a first depth;
• c) decoding said receive samples according to a second coding scheme, wherein said second coding scheme has a second depth;
• d) decoding said receive samples according to a third coding scheme, wherein said third coding scheme has a third depth, and wherein at least one depth from said first depth, said second depth and said third depth is not equal to at least one other depth from said first depth, said second depth and said third depth.