FEC (Forward Error Correction) decoder with dynamic parameters

A receiver, comprising:

• a demodulator that is operable to demodulate an input signal stream thereby generating a QB (Queue Block) stream such that each QB within the QB stream includes a corresponding plurality of TBs (Turbo Blocks);
• an FEC (Forward Error Correction) decoding chain functional block that is operable to be configured to perform FEC decoding of a first portion of the QB stream that includes a first plurality of QBs using a first plurality of FEC decoding parameters thereby generating a first portion of an MPEG stream that includes a first plurality of MPEG blocks;
• wherein the FEC decoding chain functional block is operable to detect a CP (Control Packet) MPEG block when performing FEC decoding of the first plurality of QBs;
• a CP processor that is operable to perform parameter extraction of a second plurality of FEC decoding parameters from the CP MPEG block;
• wherein the CP processor is operable to provide the second plurality of FEC decoding parameters to the FEC decoding chain functional block;
• wherein the FEC decoding chain functional block is operable to be reconfigured to perform subsequent FEC decoding using the second plurality of FEC decoding parameters such that the second plurality of FEC decoding parameters corresponds to a second portion of the QB stream that is located a number of QB blocks after the QB from which the CP MPEG block is generated;
• and
• wherein the FEC decoding chain functional block is operable to perform FEC decoding of the second portion of the QB stream that includes a second plurality of QBs using the second plurality of FEC decoding parameters thereby generating a second portion of the MPEG stream that includes a second plurality of MPEG blocks.

A method for FEC (Forward Error Correction) decoding of a frame structure supporting dynamic FEC parameters, the method comprising:

• decoding a first plurality of FEC blocks of a demodulated signal stream according to an FEC decoding chain;
• detecting a first CP (Control Packet) from among the first plurality of FEC blocks of the demodulated signal stream when decoding the first plurality of FEC blocks;
• performing parameter acquisition to extract at least one parameter from the first detected CP;
• modifying operation of at least one decoding process within the FEC decoding chain in accordance with the extracted at least one parameter;
• and
• performing steady-state synchronized FEC decoding of a second plurality of FEC blocks and parameter acquisition from a second detected CP among the second plurality of FEC blocks.