Improvements to apparatus for decoding error-correcting codes

摘要

An improvement to a Viterbi-type decoder for decoding convolutional error-correcting codes whereby decisions regarding which predecessor state to a given state most probably corresponds to the best path terminating in that given state are stored in association with that given state and not in association with the best path. Paths are reconstructed by searching through such stored decisions. Such searches are used to recover a number, possibly greater than one of data symbols for later output from the decoder. The larger this number, the less frequently a search need be carried out.