Turbo-like forward error correction encoder and decoder with improved weight spectrum and reduced degradation in the waterfall performance region

An encoder for encoding data elements, comprising:

• a parser configured to receive data elements and parse the data elements into a plurality of pseudo-random streams,
• a plurality of interleavers each interleaver configured to receive and interleave at least one of the plurality of pseudo-random streams from said parser;
• and
• a plurality of encoders, wherein each of the plurality of encoders is configured to receive and encode at least one of the plurality of interleaved pseudo-random streams.

A method for error-correction decoding of data elements, comprising:

• parsing the data elements into a plurality of pseudo-random streams;
• temporally interleaving said data elements to modify the order in which said data elements are supplied to at least one of a plurality of independent and parallel decoding paths;
• and
• decoding the plurality of interleaved pseudo-random streams.

A decoder for decoding data elements, comprising:

• a parser configured to receive the data elements and parse the data elements into a plurality of pseudo-random streams;
• a plurality of interleavers, each interleaver configured to receive and interleave at least one of the plurality of pseudo-random streams and output an interleaved bit stream;
• and
• a plurality of decoders, wherein each of the plurality of decoders is configured to decode at least one of the plurality of interleaved bit streams.