Adaptive rate error control through the use of diversity combining and majority logic decoding in a hybrid-ARQ protocol

The author demonstrates an adaptive rate coding system based on the majority logic decoding of convolutional codes. The proposed system retains the high-data-rate capability of FEC (forward error correction) majority logic decoders while providing an adaptive code rate and a significant improvement in error protection through the incorporation of diversity combining and hybrid-ARQ (automatic repeat request) techniques. It is shown through analysis and simulation that this error control system provides a high level of data reliability at the expense of a minimal reduction in throughput