Fast Chase algorithm with an application in turbo decoding

Turbo product codes (TPCs) provide an attractive alternative to recursive systematic convolutional (RSC)-based turbo systems. Rather than employ trellis-based decoders, an algebraic decoder may be repeatedly employed in a low-complexity, soft-input/soft-output errors-and-erasures decoder such as the Chase algorithm. Taking motivation from efficient forced erasure decoders, this implementation re-orders the Chase algorithm´s repeated decodings such that the inherent computational redundancy is greatly reduced without degrading performance. The result is a highly efficient fast Chase implementation. The algorithm presented here is principally applicable to single error-correcting codes although consideration is also given to the more general case. The new decoder´s value in practical turbo schemes is demonstrated via application to decoding of the (64,57,4) extended Hamming TPC