Flexible LDPC decoder using stream data processing for 802.11n and 802.16e

Wireless data transmission standards like 802.16e, 802.11n, employ Low Density parity Check (LDPC) codes for error control coding. The bit flipping decoding algorithms presents a tradeoff between the error correcting capability, decoding resources and the decoding time. Software based LDPC decoders provide adaptation capabilities in system parameters such as block size and code rate. In a real-time, low-power mobile environments, the Single-Instruction Multiple-Data (SIMD) processor currently used for video processing, could also be used for the LDPC decoding. In this paper, the implementation efficient, reliability ratio-based, weighted bit flipping (IRRWBF) algorithm is presented using a flexible software based LDPC decoder. Compact data structures are proposed for performing the decoding using SIMD architecture. Based on the implementation on two commonly used SIMD architecture for mobile platform, it was found that the decoding speed can be increased by more than 2000% (using 64 bit SIMD registers with vector integer calculation) and 1800% (using 128 bit SIMD registers with vector floating point calculation). Experimental results for different code lengths of 802.16e and 802.11n show that decoding time in order of 1×10^-3 ~10×10^-3 seconds is achievable. Due to significantly high throughput and flexibility, the proposed design algorithm and data structure can easily be adapted to any energy-sensitive mobile devices employing SIMD processors¹.