System for coding system

An encoded signal embodied in a carrier wave comprising:

• a first code segment comprising code for encoding a portion of an information signal with a first encoder to generate a first set of redundant bits;
• a second code segment comprising code for passing a portion of the information signal through a structured interleaver, wherein the structured interleaver is a reverse block interleaver, to generate an interleaved signal;
• a third code segment comprising code for encoding a portion of the interleaved signal with a second encoder to generate a second set of redundant bits;
• and
• a fourth code segment comprising code for concatenating the information signal, the first set of redundant bits, and the second set of redundant bits to form the encoded output signal.

A computer readable storage medium containing program code for controlling a method for coding an information signal, the method comprising the steps of:

• encoding a portion of the information signal with a first encoder to generate a first set of r.sub.1 redundant bits, where r.sub.1 is an integer value of one or more;
• passing a portion of the information signal through a structured interleaver, wherein the structured interleaver is a reverse block interleaver, to generate an interleaved signal;
• encoding a portion of the interleaved signal with a second encoder to generate a second set of r.sub.2 redundant bits, where r.sub.2 is an integer value of one or more;
• and
• concatenating the information signal, the first set of redundant bits, and the second set of redundant bits to form an encoded output signal.

An encoder for providing a multilevel encoded signal comprising:

• a serial to parallel converter having an input for receiving an input signal and a plurality of outputs;
• a plurality of encoders, wherein each of the plurality of encoders has an input and an output, the input of each of the plurality of encoders being associated with one of the outputs of the serial to parallel converter,
• a symbol selector having a plurality of inputs and an output, each of the plurality of inputs being associated with one of the outputs of the plurality of encoders;
• and
• at least one structured interleaver interposed between an output of the serial to parallel converter and the input of the associated encoder.

An encoder for coding an information signal comprising:

• a first encoder configured to generate a first set of redundant bits;
• a structured interleaver, wherein the structured interleaver is a reverse block interleaver, configured to generate an interleaved signal;
• a second encoder configured to generate a second set of redundant bits;
• and
• means for concatenating the information signal, the first set of redundant bits, and the second set of redundant bits to form an encoded output signal.