Method and apparatus for concatenated convolutional endcoding and interleaving

A method of interleaving a source data stream for transmission comprising the steps of:

• encoding said source data stream to generate an output data stream using a convolutional coding scheme having a selected code rate, said output data stream being characterized as a series of data groups, each of said data groups comprising a plurality of punctured data groups, each of said punctured data groups having a reduced code rate with respect to said selected code rate;
• demultiplexing said output data stream for transmission on separate transmission channels;
• and
• interleaving said output data stream in each of said channels in accordance with a plurality of time-interleaving functions to disperse said bits in said data groups within said transmission channels, said time-interleaving functions being selected to disperse different groups of bits in said output data stream selected from the group consisting of said bits in one of said punctured data groups, said bits in adjacent said data groups, and said bits in selected sets of said data groups to facilitate reconstruction of said source data stream from at least a portion of said interleaved data stream received on at least one of said transmission channels.

An apparatus for interleaving a data stream for transmission comprising:

• a convolutional encoder for encoding said data stream to generate an output data stream having a selected code rate, said output data stream being characterized as a series of data groups, each of said data groups comprising a plurality of punctured data groups, each of said punctured data groups having a reduced code rate with respect to said selected code rate;
• an interleaver for interleaving said data groups in accordance with a plurality of time-interleaving functions to disperse said bits in said data groups within said output data stream and generate an interleaved data stream;
• and
• a demultiplexer for demultiplexing said interleaved data stream for transmission on separate transmission channels, said time-interleaving functions being selected to disperse different groups of bits in said output data stream selected from the group consisting of said bits in one of said punctured data groups, said bits in adjacent said data groups, and said bits in selected sets of said data groups to facilitate reconstruction of said source data stream from at least a portion of said interleaved data stream received on at least one of said transmission channels.

An apparatus for interleaving a source data stream for transmission comprising:

• a convolutional encoder for encoding said source data stream to generate an output data stream using a convolutional coding scheme having a selected code rate, said output data stream being characterized as a series of data groups, each of said data groups comprising a plurality of punctured data groups, each of said punctured data groups having a reduced code rate with respect to said selected code rate;
• a demultiplexer for demultiplexing said output data stream for transmission on separate transmission channels;
• and
• an interleaver for each of said transmission channels for interleaving said output data stream in the corresponding one of said channels in accordance with a plurality of time-interleaving functions to disperse said bits in said data groups within said transmission channels, said time-interleaving functions being selected to disperse different groups of bits in said output data stream selected from the group consisting of said bits in one of said punctured data groups, said bits in adjacent said data groups, and said bits in selected sets of said data groups to facilitate reconstruction of said source data stream from at least a portion of said interleaved data stream received on at least one of said transmission channels.