Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
Decoder device using the Viterbi algorithm for decoding convolutionally encoded messages, comprising: a first module (VITALFA) for calculating transition probabilities for possible state transitions between two successive states of the decoder, and a second module (VIPROB) for calculating, as a function of said transition probabilities, path probabilities for possible paths constituted by successive state transitions and ending in each of said states, and for selecting, for each of said states, only a path having the highest path probability value, wherein said first module (VITALFA) is for further calculating, for each of said transitions, a transition bit error rate which is a function of a difference between bits (softbits) received in said first module (VITALFA) and the bits (coded bits) expected for a same state transition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
Decoder device using the Viterbi algorithm for decoding convolutionally encoded messages, comprising: a first module (VITALFA) for calculating transition probabilities for possible state transitions between two successive states of the decoder, and a second module (VIPROB) for calculating, as a function of said transition probabilities, path probabilities for possible paths constituted by successive state transitions and ending in each of said states, and for selecting, for each of said states, only a path having the highest path probability value, wherein said first module (VITALFA) is for further calculating, for each of said transitions, a transition bit error rate which is a function of a difference between bits (softbits) received in said first module (VITALFA) and the bits (coded bits) expected for a same state transition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
Decoder device according to claim 1, wherein said first module (VITALFA) includes a first control circuit (AFSM) for controlling said first module, and that said second module (VIPROB) includes a second control circuit (PFSM) for controlling said second module.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
Decoder device according to claim 2, wherein said first module (VITALFA) and said second module (VIPROB) operate independently from each other, their operation for being supervised by a common control module (VICONT).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
Decoder device according to claim 1, wherein it includes a third module (VIDATA) for selecting. amongst said paths selected by said second module (VIPROB), only one path corresponding to an estimated message to be decoded.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
Decoder device according to claim 4, wherein said third module (VIDATA) includes a third control circuit (DFSM) for controlling said third module, and that said third module (VIDATA) is for operating independently from said first (VITALFA) and said second (VIPROB) modules, all these modules for being supervised by a common control module (VICONT).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
Decoder device according to claim 1, wherein said first module (VITALFA) is for simultaneously calculating, for each state transition, said transition probability and said transition bit error rate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
Decoder device according to claim 1, wherein said second module (VIPROB) is for further calculating, for the path selected for each state, a path bit error rate which is a sum of said transition bit error rate calculated for each of said transitions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
Decoder device according to claim 7, wherein said second module (VIPROB) is for calculating, simultaneously and in parallel, said path probability and said path bit error rate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
Decoder device according to claim 4, wherein said first (VITALFA), second (VIPROB) and third (VIDATA) modules are connected in cascade.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
Decoder device according to claim 1, wherein it is implemented as one functional block if an integrated circuit.