Early-termination of decoding convolutional codes

A decoder, comprising:

• an input configured to receive a sequence of softbits presumed to correspond to a convolutionally-encoded codeword;
• and
• a decoding circuit configured to:
• determine, as part of a decoding process, a survivor path of a decoding window in a trellis representation of the codeword;
• determine whether the presumed convolutionally-encoded codeword meets an early-termination criteria;
• abort the decoding process if the presumed convolutionally-encoded codeword meets the early-termination criteria;
• and
• continue the decoding process if the presumed convolutionally-encoded codeword fails to meet the early-termination criteria.

A decoding method, comprising:

• receiving, at an input of a decoder, a sequence of softbits presumed to correspond to a convolutionally-encoded codeword;
• determining, by the decoder, a Maximum Likelihood (ML) survivor path in a trellis representation of the codeword;
• determining, by the decoder, whether the presumed convolutionally-encoded codeword meets an early-termination criteria;
• aborting the decoding process if the presumed convolutionally-encoded codeword meets the early-termination criteria;
• and
• continue the decoding method if the presumed convolutionally-encoded codeword fails to meet the early-termination criteria.

A system, comprising:

• a transmitter configured to output a sequence of bits representing a convolutionally-encoded codeword;
• and
• a decoder comprising a decoding circuit configured to:
• receive a sequence of softbits presumed to correspond to the convolutionally-encoded codeword;
• determine, as part of a decoding process, a survivor path of a decoding window in a trellis representation of the codeword;
• determine whether the presumed convolutionally-encoded codeword meets an early-termination criteria;
• abort the decoding process if the presumed convolutionally-encoded codeword meets the early-termination criteria;
• and
• continue the decoding process if the presumed convolutionally-encoded codeword fails to meet the early-termination criteria.