Encoder circuit, decoder circuit, encoding method, and decoding method for multilevel coding

A decoder circuit that decodes a signal generated by an encoder circuit in a transmission system that transmits symbols by using 22N signal points on a constellation, N being an integer larger than 2, wherein

• the encoder circuit includes
• a symbol mapper configured to allocate each symbol of a data frame including information bits, a first code and a second code to a corresponding signal point among the 22N signal points according to a mapping pattern,
• a converter configured to convert information bits stored in other bit strings among N bit strings forming the data frame excluding a first bit string among the N bit strings, such that a probability that each symbol is allocated to a signal point close to a center of the constellation is high,
• a first encoder configured to generate the first code from information bits stored in the first bit string and the information bits converted by the converter, and
• a second encoder configured to generate the second code from the information bits stored in the first bit string and the first code,
• the first code and the second code are stored in the first bit string,
• the mapping pattern indicates a correspondence between a signal point and values of N bits corresponding to the N bit strings,
• in the mapping pattern, values of bits corresponding to the other bit strings are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the constellation,
• in the mapping pattern, each pair of adjacent signal points on the constellation are different from each other in terms of a value of bit corresponding to the first bit string,
• the decoder circuit comprises:
• a first decoder configured to recover each bit of the first bit string by using a soft decision;
• a second decoder configured to recover each bit of the other bit strings by using each bit of the first bit string recovered by the first decoder;
• and
• a reverse converter configured to perform, for the other bit strings recovered by the second decoder, reverse conversion corresponding to the conversion performed by the converter.

An encoding method for encoding information bits in a transmission system that transmits symbols by using 22N signal points on a constellation, N being an integer larger than 2, the encoding method comprising:

• converting information bits stored in other bit strings among N bit strings forming a data frame storing information bits, such that a probability that each symbol is allocated to a signal point close to a center of the constellation is high, the other bit strings excluding a first bit string among the N bit strings;
• generating a first code from information bits stored in the first bit string and the converted information bits;
• and
• generating the second code from the information bits stored in the first bit string and the first code, wherein
• the first code and the second code are stored in the first bit string,
• each symbol of the data frame is allocated to a corresponding signal point among the 22N signal points according to a mapping pattern indicating a correspondence between a signal point and values of N bits corresponding to the N bit strings,
• in the mapping pattern, values of bits corresponding to the other bit strings are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the constellation, and
• in the mapping pattern, each pair of adjacent signal points on the constellation are different from each other in terms of a value of bit corresponding to the first bit string.

A decoding method for decoding a signal generated by an encoder circuit in a transmission system that transmits symbols by using 22N signal points on a constellation, N being an integer larger than 2, wherein

• the encoder circuit includes
• a symbol mapper configured to allocate each symbol of a data frame including information bits, a first code and a second code to a corresponding signal point among the 22N signal points according to a mapping pattern,
• a converter configured to convert information bits stored in other bit strings among N bit strings forming the data frame excluding a first bit string among the N bit strings, such that a probability that each symbol is allocated to a signal point close to a center of the constellation is high,
• a first encoder configured to generate the first code from information bits stored in the first bit string and the information bits converted by the converter, and
• a second encoder configured to generate the second code from the information bits stored in the first bit string and the first code,
• the first code and the second code are stored in the first bit string,
• the mapping pattern indicates a correspondence between a signal point and values of N bits corresponding to the N bit strings,
• in the mapping pattern, values of bits corresponding to the other bit strings are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the constellation,
• in the mapping pattern, each pair of adjacent signal points on the constellation are different from each other in terms of a value of bit corresponding to the first bit string, and
• the decoding method comprises:
• recovering each bit of the first bit string by using a soft decision;
• recovering each bit of the other bit strings by using each bit of the recovered first bit string;
• and
• performing, for the recovered other bit strings, reverse conversion corresponding to the conversion performed by the converter.

An encoder circuit that encodes information bits in a transmission system that transmits symbols by using 16 signal points on a constellation, the 16 signal points corresponding to 16 QAM, the encoder circuit comprising:

• a symbol mapper configured to allocate each symbol of a data frame including information bits, a first code and a second code to a corresponding signal point among the 16 signal points according to a mapping pattern;
• a converter configured to convert information bits stored in a first bit string and a second bit string among four bit strings forming the data frame, such that a probability that each symbol is allocated to a signal point close to a center of the constellation is high;
• a first encoder configured to generate the first code from the information bits converted by the converter and information bits stored in a third bit string and a fourth bit string among the four bit strings;
• and
• a second encoder configured to generate the second code from the information bits stored in the fourth bit string and the first code, wherein
• the first code and the second code are stored in the fourth bit string,
• the mapping pattern indicates a correspondence between a signal point and values of four bits corresponding to the four bit strings,
• in the mapping pattern, values of bits corresponding to the first bit string and the second bit string are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the constellation in each of two coordinate-axis directions of the constellation, and
• in the mapping pattern, each pair of adjacent signal points on the constellation are different from each other, in each of the two coordinate-axis directions of the constellation, in terms of a value of bit corresponding to the fourth bit string.