Joint encoding and decoding methods for improving the error rate performance

A computer-implemented data encoding method comprising the steps of:

• receiving data symbols U consisting of Z symbols (where, Z=K+T data symbols, K information symbols and T overhead symbols for error detection and/or trellis termination for convolutional and turbo codes);
• determining size of the data symbols U;
• communicating said size of the data symbols U as input to a tuner;
• wherein said tuner performs the steps of:
• (a) outputting a priori a size of L desired symbols to a decoder;
• (b) outputting a priori values of the L desired symbols to the decoder;
• (c) outputting a priori positions j1, j2, . . . jL of the L desired symbols to the decoder, the size, values and positions of the L desired symbols being alternatively determined by distance measurement methods and by error rate performance results;
• communicating the data symbols U, and the size, values and positions of the L desired symbols to the input of an encoder insertion unit;
• wherein said encoder insertion unit performs the steps of:
• forming new data symbols U′ at its output, said U′ consisting of Z′=Z+H symbols, said H symbols being inserted into U′ at positions i1, i2, . . . iH, and wherein the size, values, and positions of the L desired symbols determining said H symbols and positions i1, i2, . . . iH;
• encoding the new data symbols U′ to form a codeword C′;
• and
• transmitting over a communications channel the codeword C′.