Patent ID: 6151370
Filing Date: 2000-11-21
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for use in a decoder for decoding a sequence of signal points corrupted by intersymbol interference, said signal points having been generated using a particular trellis code defined by a trellis diagram, the method comprising the steps ofa) generating in response to each received signal point a plurality of equalized signal points, each equalized signal point being generated as a function of a respective estimate of the intersymbol interference component of said each received signal point, each estimate being a function of a respective present surviving path of said decoder,b) generating a path metric for each of a plurality of candidate paths, each candidate path comprising a respective one of the present surviving paths extended from its respective terminating state of the trellis code along a branch of said trellis diagram, said generated path metrics being a function of said generated equalized signal points,c) selecting ones of the candidate paths to be updated surviving paths, said selected ones of the candidate paths having the smallest overall path metrics relative to all candidate paths,d) forming a decision as to a particular one of the signal points of said sequence as a function of at least one of the candidate paths.