Polarization-adjusted convolutional codes with freezer

An encoding apparatus, comprising:

• a transmitter;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• receive a plurality of information bits (k), wherein k is a positive integer,
• generate a plurality of convolutionally encoded bits (n) by performing a convolutional encoding operation on the plurality of information bits and a plurality of frozen bits (n−k), wherein n is a positive integer,
• perform a refreezing operation on the plurality of convolutionally encoded bits, wherein the refreezing operation includes dynamically assigning zeros to selected frozen indices such that a number of low weight codewords is reduced, and
• generate a plurality of polar encoded bits by performing a polar encoding operation on an output of the refreezing operation,
• wherein the plurality of polar encoded bits are provided for transmission or storage.

A decoding apparatus, comprising:

• a transceiver configured to receive a polar code with refrozen indices from a communication channel;
• and
• a processor configured to perform successive cancellation list decoding of the polar code with refrozen indices, wherein the polar code with refrozen indices is generated by:
• receiving a plurality of information bits (k), wherein k is a positive integer,
• generating a plurality of convolutionally encoded bits (n) by performing a convolutional encoding operation on the plurality of information bits and a plurality of frozen bits (n−k), wherein n is a positive integer,
• performing a refreezing operation on the plurality of convolutionally encoded bits, wherein the refreezing operation includes dynamically assigning zeros to selected frozen indices such that a number of low weight codewords is reduced, and
• generating a plurality of polar encoded bits by performing a polar encoding operation on an output of the refreezing operation.