Apparatus and method for selecting candidates in a k-best algorithm of a multiple input multiple output decoder

Method for selecting candidates in a K-Best algorithm of a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) decoder,

• wherein the K-Best algorithm uses a layered structure comprising a first layer and subsequent layers,
• the method comprising the steps of
• generating in the first layer a candidate group of 2L candidates,
• wherein the candidates have distance values according to a received signal of the MIMO decoder,
• sending, by the first layer, the generated group of 2L candidates to a first subsequent layer of the subsequent layers for obtaining a candidate group for the first subsequent layer,
• selecting, in each subsequent layer, 2L candidates by iteratively carrying out a selection step,
• wherein in the selection step the apparatus is configured to calculate and select at least two candidates having minimum distance values of the candidate group for the subsequent layer, and
• sending, after each iteratively carried out selection step, by each subsequent layer and to a further subsequent layer, the selected at least two candidates for iteratively generating a further candidate group of 2L candidates for the further subsequent layer.