Methods, algorithms, software, circuits, receivers and systems for decoding convolutional code

A receiver, comprising:

• a circuit comprising a buffer configured to receive a serial data block;
• logic configured to concatenate one or more sequences of said serial data block to said serial data block;
• a decoder configured to decode said serial data block and said one or more sequences, estimate a starting state by computing path metrics for said serial data block up to a first bit position and an ending state for said serial data block by computing path metrics for said serial data block up to a second bit position such that said starting state and said ending state have essentially a same value, trace back from said first bit position to a third bit position and from said second bit position to a fourth bit position, and output an internal portion of said serial data block and said one or more sequences from said third bit position to said fourth bit position as decoded data;
• and
• a receiver port communicatively coupled to said buffer, configured to receive serial data from a channel.

A system for transferring data on or across a network, comprising:

• a receiver comprising a buffer configured to receive a serial data block;
• logic configured to concatenate one or more sequences of said serial data block to said serial data block;
• a decoder configured to decode said serial data block and said one or more sequences, estimate a starting state by computing path metrics for said serial data block up to a first bit position and an ending state for said serial data block by computing path metrics for said serial data block up to a second bit position such that said starting state and said ending state have essentially a same value, trace back from said first bit position to a third bit position and from said second bit position to a fourth bit position, and output an internal portion of said serial data block and said one or more sequences from said third bit position to said fourth bit position as decoded data;
• and a receiver port communicatively coupled to said buffer, configured to receive serial data from a channel;
• and
• at least one transmitter, communicatively coupled to said receiver port, configured to transmit said serial data block to an external receive.

A wireless network, comprising:

• a plurality of systems communicatively coupled to each other, each system comprising a buffer configured to receive a serial data block;
• logic configured to concatenate one or more sequences of said serial data block to said serial data block;
• a decoder configured to decode said serial data block and said one or more sequences, estimate a starting state by computing path metrics for said serial data block up to a first bit position and an ending state for said serial data block by computing path metrics for said serial data block up to a second bit position such that said starting state and said ending state have essentially a same value, trace back from said first bit position to a third bit position and from said second bit position to a fourth bit position, and output an internal portion of said serial data block and said one or more sequences from said third bit position to said fourth bit position as decoded data;
• a receiver port communicatively coupled to said buffer, configured to receive serial data from a channel;
• and
• a plurality of communications devices, each of said communications devices being communicatively coupled to at least one of said systems.