Zipper code framework-based communication systems and methods

A receiver comprising:

• a receiver processor configured to:
• receive an analog signal transmitted by a transmitter,
• process the received analog signal and generate received forward error correction (FEC)-based encoded bits in accordance with a zipper code framework that incorporates component non-binary codes;
• and
• a FEC-based decoder configured to decode the received FEC-based encoded bits in accordance with a non-binary decoding technique and generate information bits.

A method of transmission comprising:

• receiving a plurality of data bits;
• generating FEC-based encoded data bits in accordance with a zipper code framework incorporating component non-binary codes, wherein the zipper code framework including a buffer having a virtual buffer and a real buffer;
• storing codewords associated with the FEC-based encoded bits in rows of the real buffer;
• and
• mapping a given codeword in a given row of the real buffer to different rows of the virtual buffer.

A method for reception comprising:

• receiving an analog signal transmitted by a transmitter;
• processing the received analog signal and generating received forward error correction (FEC)-based encoded bits in accordance with a zipper code framework that incorporates component non-binary codes;
• and
• decoding the received FEC-based encoded bits in accordance with a non-binary decoding technique and generating information bits.