Method and apparatus for reducing the average number of iterations in iterative decoding

摘要

A method and apparatus for reducing the average number of iterations in an iterative decoding technique includes the step of at the end of each decoding iteration or sub-iteration estimating the transmitted bit sequence by processing the available information. A signature for the estimation is then generated of reach iteration or sub-iteration. If this signature is the first signature generated, the decoder proceeds to the next process. When there exists a signature generated for the previous decoding iteration or sub-iteration step, the new signature for the current iteration is compared with the signature (old signature) for this previous iteration. If the two signatures match, the decoding iteration stops. Otherwise, the decoding iteration process continues.