Pilot symbol assisted modulation using encoder tail bits

We propose more efficient pilot symbol assisted modulation (PSAM) method than conventional ones in data transmission rate. It can be applied to a PSAM system that adapts convolutional encoding (constraint length K, code rate 1/R) as the error control code. In the proposed PSAM scheme, we select one of R generator polynomials of a convolutional encoder, and choose encoder tail bits to satisfy that their encoded symbols are always zeros (or ones). By using them as pilot symbols, a higher transmission rate is achieved