A novel hybrid coding scheme [sequential decoding]

A new hybrid coding scheme, which combines convolutional codes, block codes and cyclic redundancy check (CRC), is proposed. The scheme uses RS codes and CRC to improve the efficiency of the standard Fano algorithm, used in sequential decoding of convolutional codes. This is achieved by limiting the number of backward search operations the sequential decoder has to execute. As a result, significant reduction in decoding delay and buffer overflow rate is achieved while maintaining comparative decoding performance in terms of bit error rate (BER) when compared to a standard Fano based sequential decoding. A software model of the hybrid decoder is built, from which BER results and buffer overflow rates are obtained and performance comparisons with a standard Fano decoder are made.