Viterbi decoding apparatus and viterbi decoding method

A Viterbi decoding apparatus comprising:

• a terminate state path decoding means for decoding a path corresponding to a first of a plurality of convolution codes, each of the convolution codes having a termination interval, and for forcing the path of the first convolution code to reach a state to be terminated when the termination interval of the first convolution code is detected, wherein said terminate state path decoding means further comprises:
• a path memory operatively configured to perform a trace-back method,
• and wherein by setting a cut-length so as to be a fraction m/n (m and n are integers) of a termination length,
• a tracing is started from the state to be terminated upon terminating.

A Viterbi decoding method for continuously processing a plurality of convolution codes associated with a reception data signal, the method comprising the steps of:

• decoding a path corresponding to a first of a plurality of convolution codes, each of the convolution codes having a termination interval, and for forcing the path of the first convolution code to reach a state to be terminated when the termination interval of the first convolution code is detected;
• storing decoding words corresponding to the state to be terminated into a register train as long as a cut-length added to a path memory to perform the register transition method;
• and
• sequentially outputting said decoding words stored in said register train upon terminating.

A Viterbi decoding method for continuously processing a plurality of convolution codes associated with a reception data signal, the method comprising the steps of:

• decoding a path corresponding to a first of a plurality of convolution codes, each of the convolution codes having a termination interval, and for forcing the path of the first convolution code to reach a state to be terminated when the termination interval of the first convolution code is detected;
• controlling selection information of each memory cell in a register train corresponding to the state to be terminated;
• and
• outputting decoding words corresponding to the state to be terminated as they are upon terminating by the operation of said control step.

A Viterbi decoding method for continuously processing a plurality of convolution codes associated with a reception data signal, the method comprising the steps of:

• decoding a path corresponding to a first of a plurality of convolution codes, each of the convolution codes having a termination interval, and for forcing the path of the first convolution code to reach a state to be terminated when the termination interval of the first convolution code is detected;
• setting a cut-length so as to be equal to a fraction m/n (m and n are integers) of a termination length;
• and
• starting a tracing from the state to be terminated upon terminating.

A Viterbi decoding method for continuously processing a plurality of convolution codes associated with a reception data signal, the method comprising the steps of:

• decoding a path corresponding to a first of a plurality of convolution codes, each of the convolution codes having a termination interval, and for forcing the path of the first convolution code to reach a state to be terminated when the termination interval of the first convolution code is detected;
• setting a state metric of the states other than the state to be terminated to a large enough value upon terminating;
• and
• decoding a path which passes through the state to be terminated.