Device and method to carry out a viterbi-algorithm

An apparatus for executing a Viterbi algorithm, comprising:

• initial state registers each storing a state metric of an initial state of a trellis having a butterfly structure, a state metric, and a transition metric;
• at least one transition register storing the transition metric of the trellis;
• evaluation units;
• an adder/subtracter network for processing signals, said adder/subtracter network connected:
• to said initial state registers;
• to said at least one transition register;
• and
• to said evaluation units in accordance with the butterfly structure of the trellis;
• said evaluation units evaluating signals processed by said adder/subtracter network in accordance with a Viterbi algorithm;
• a selection unit switching the apparatus between a first operating mode and a second operating mode, wherein the first operating mode is in a different field of operation than the second operating mode;
• final state registers connected to said evaluation units, each of said final state registers storing the state metric of a respective final state of the trellis;
• and
• said selection unit selecting different ones of said evaluation units in dependence upon a selected one of said first and second operating modes.