Abstract:
A transmitting device including an encoder for receiving an information bit stream in a frame and outputting an information symbol, a first parity symbol, and a second parity symbol by encoding each information bit. An interleaver sequentially arranges the information symbols and the first and second parity symbols by rows in an array with an integer number of rows and an integer number of columns. The interleaver further outputs a plurality of radio frames in a stream, by reading the symbols by going down each column, starting at the leftmost column and proceeding right. Each radio frame has a predetermined size. A demultiplexer demultiplexes the radio frames received from the interleaver into streams of information, first parity symbols, and second parity symbols. A rate matcher bypasses the stream of information symbols and punctures the streams of the first and second parity symbols for rate matching.

Description:
PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/613,068, which claims priority to applications entitled “Apparatus and Method for Controlling Demultiplexer and Multiplexer for Rate Matching in Mobile Communication System” filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Jul. 8, 1999 and assigned Serial No. 99-27407, “Apparatus and Method for Controlling Demultiplexer and Multiplexer for Rate Matching in Mobile Communication System” filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Jul. 23, 1999 and assigned Serial No. 99-30095, and “Apparatus and Method for Controlling Demultiplexer and Multiplexer for Rate Matching in Mobile Communication System” filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Aug. 30, 1999 and assigned Serial No. 99-37496, the contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to the rate matching of a channel encoded signal, and in particular, to an apparatus and method for controlling a demultiplexer (DEMUX) and a multiplexer (MUX) used for rate matching.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     In general, radio communication systems, such as satellite, ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), W-CDMA (Wide band-Code Division Multiple Access), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System), and IMT (International Mobile Telecommunication)-2000 systems, channel-encode source user data with an error correction code prior to transmission, in order to increase system reliability. Typical codes used for channel encoding are convolutional codes and linear blocks code for which a single decoder is used. Lately, turbo codes, which are useful for data transmission and reception, have been suggested.  
         [0006]     A multiple-access and multiple-channel communication system matches the number of channel encoded symbols to a given number of transmission data symbols to increase data transmission efficiency and system performance. This operation is called rate matching. Puncturing and repetition are widely performed to match the data rate of channel encoded symbols. Rate matching has recently emerged as a significant factor in UMTS for increasing data transmission efficiency in the air interface and for improving system performance.  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an uplink transmitting device in a general mobile communication system (a UMTS system, herein).  
         [0008]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a channel encoder  110  receives frame data at predetermined TTIs (Transmission Time Intervals), which may be 10, 20, 40, or 80 ms, and encodes the received frame data. And the channel encoder  110  outputs encoded symbols according to a predetermined coding rate R. The frame data size (number of information bits) is determined by a (data rate of the frame data)*(TTI). If tail bits are not considered, the number of encoded symbols are determined by the (frame data size)*(coding rate R). A 1 st  interleaver  120  interleaves the output of the channel encoder  110 . A radio frame segmenter  130  segments interleaved symbols received from the 1 st  interleaver  120  into 10-ms radio frame blocks of which size is determined by (the number of encoded symbols)/(10), wherein 10 is the radio frame length unit. A rate matcher  140  matches the data rate of a radio frame received from the radio frame segmenter  130  to a preset data rate by puncturing or repeating symbols of the radio frame. The above-described components can be provided for each service.  
         [0009]     A MUX  150  multiplexes rate-matched radio frames from each service. A physical channel segmenter  160  segments the multiplexed radio frames received from the MUX  150  into physical channel blocks. A 2 nd  interleaver  170  interleaves the physical channel blocks received from the physical channel segmenter  160 . A physical channel mapper  180  maps the 2 nd -interleaved blocks on physical channels for transmission.  
         [0010]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the UMTS uplink transmitting device is provided with rate matchers  140 . The rate matcher  140  varies in configuration depending on whether the channel encoder  110  is a convolutional encoder or a turbo encoder.  
         [0011]     When a linear block code is used (a convolutional encoder and a single decoder are used in this case) for the channel encoder, the following requirements of rate matching should be satisfied to increase data transmission efficiency and system performance in a multiple-access/multiple-channel scheme.  
         [0012]     1. An input symbol sequence is punctured/repeated in a predetermined periodic pattern.  
         [0013]     2. The number of punctured symbols is minimized whereas the number of repeated symbols is maximized.  
         [0014]     3. A uniform puncturing/repeating pattern is used to puncture/repeat encoded symbols uniformly.  
         [0015]     The above requirements are set on the assumption that the error sensitivity of a code symbol at any position in one frame output from a convolutional encoder is similar. Although some favorable results can be produced using the above requirements, a rate matching scheme different from the convolutional encoder should be employed when using a turbo encoder because of the different error sensitivities of symbols at different positions in one frame.  
         [0016]     When a turbo encoder is used, it is preferred that the systematic information part of the encoded symbols is not punctured since the turbo encoder is a systematic encoder. Due to the two component encoder structure of the turbo encoder, the minimum free distance of the output code is maximized when the minimum free distance of each of the two component codes is maximized. To do so, the output symbols of the two component encoders should be punctured equally to thereby achieve optimal performance.  
         [0017]     As described above, a distinction should be made between the information symbols and the parity symbols in the encoded symbols when a turbo encoder is used, to achieve optimal rate matching. Processing, such as channel interleaving, can be interposed between the turbo encoder and a rate matcher. Nevertheless, the distinction between information symbols and parity symbols should be preserved. However, this is impossible because all of the channel encoded symbols are randomly mixed after channel interleaving.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for performing rate matching separately on information symbols and parity symbols during symbol encoding in an uplink transmitting device of a mobile communication system.  
         [0019]     Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for disposing a DEMUX before a rate matcher in order to separate symbol data into information symbols and parity symbols in a mobile communication system.  
         [0020]     A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for controlling a DEMUX and a MUX for use in rate matching in an uplink transmitting device of a mobile communication system.  
         [0021]     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for controlling a DEMUX and a MUX for use in the rate matching of a turbo-encoded signal in an uplink transmitting device of a mobile communication system.  
         [0022]     To achieve the above and other objects, there is provided a transmitting device in a mobile communication system. In the preferred embodiments of the transmitting device, an encoder receives an information bit stream in a frame as long as an integer multiple of a predetermined size and generates an information symbol and first and second parity symbols by encoding each information bit. An interleaver sequentially arranges information symbols and the first and second parity symbols corresponding to each of the information symbols row by row in an array having a number of rows and a number of columns. The number of rows and the number of columns in the array are both integers. The interleaver reorders the columns according to a predetermined rule, reading the symbols down by column from left to right, and outputs a plurality of radio frames in a stream, each radio frame having a size determined by L/(TTI/10 ms), where L is number of coded symbols. A demultiplexer demultiplexes each of the radio frames received from the interleaver to the information symbols, the first parity symbols, and the second parity symbols of the radio frame. Rate matchers bypass the information symbols and puncture or repeat the first and second parity symbols for rate matching. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an uplink transmitting device in a conventional mobile communication system;  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an uplink transmitting device provided with a DEMUX and a MUX for rate matching, according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example of turbo encoder input and turbo encoder output in the uplink transmitting device of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example of 1 st -interleaver input with coding rate R=1/3 in the uplink transmitting device of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0028]      FIGS. 5A, 5B , and  5 C illustrate examples of 1 st -interleaver output with R=1/3 in the uplink transmitting device of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  illustrates an example of 1 st -interleaver input with R=1/2 in the uplink transmitting device of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0030]      FIGS. 7A, 7B , and  7 C illustrate examples of 1 st -interleaver output with R=1/2 in the uplink transmitting device of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0031]      FIGS. 8A  to  8 D illustrate examples of radio frame segmenter output in the uplink transmitting device of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0032]      FIGS. 9A, 9B , and  9 C illustrate 1 st -interleaver input, 1 st -interleaver output, and radio frame segmenter output according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0033]      FIGS. 10A, 10B , and  10 C illustrate 1 st -interleaver input, 1 st -interleaver output, and radio frame segmenter output according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0034]      FIGS. 11A  to  11 D illustrate 1 st -interleaver input, 1 st -interleaver output, and radio frame segmenter output according to a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0035]      FIGS. 12A, 12B , and  12 C illustrate 1 st -interleaver input, 1 st -interleaver output, and radio frame segmenter output according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0036]      FIG. 13  is a block diagram of a DEMUX &amp; MUX controlling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0037]      FIG. 14  is a block diagram of a DEMUX &amp; MUX controlling apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0038]      FIG. 15  is a block diagram of a DEMUX &amp; MUX controlling apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0039]     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.  
         [0040]     For rate matching, the UMTS uplink transmitting device of  FIG. 1  has rate matcher  140  that varies in structure depending on whether channel encoder  110  is a convolutional encoder or a turbo encoder, as stated before. When a turbo encoder is used as the channel encoder  110  according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the rate matcher  140  is so constituted as to include a DEMUX  141 , component rate matchers  142 ,  143 , and  144 , and a MUX  145 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The DEMUX  141  separates the output symbols of the radio frame segmenter  130  into information symbols and parity symbols and switches them to the corresponding component rate matchers  142 ,  143 , and  144 . The MUX  145  multiplexes symbols received from the component rate matchers  142 ,  143 , and  144  and feeds the multiplexed symbols to the MUX  150  of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0041]     The uplink transmitting device shown in  FIG. 2  is so constituted that the systematic information symbols of encoded symbols is not punctured in view of the fact that a turbo code is a systematic code. It is preferred that the two component encoders are connected in parallel in the turbo encoder and that the minimum free distance between final codes maximizes that of each component encoder. The consideration that the best performance can be achieved by equal puncturing of the output symbols of the two component encoders is reflected in the constitution of the uplink transmitting device in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0042]     According to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the DEMUX  141  is located between radio frame segmenter  130  and component rate matchers  142 ,  143 , and  144 , while MUX  145  is located between component rate matchers  142 ,  143 , and  144  and MUX  150  in the uplink transmitting device.  
         [0043]     In the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 2 , the DEMUX  141  and MUX  145  are synchronized with each other such that the DEMUX  141  and MUX  145  switch to the same rate matcher block (i.e., if DEMUX  141  switches to rate matcher  142  to input a symbol into the DEMUX  141 , then MUX also switches to the rate matcher  142  after the input symbol has been rate matched to receive the rate matched symbol.).  
         [0044]     The turbo code used in turbo encoder  110  of  FIG. 2  is a systematic code and, thusly, can be separated into a systematic information symbol X k  and parity symbol Y k  and Z k . For turbo encoder  110 , code rate R=1/3. Hereinafter, the systematic information symbol will be labeled with x and the first parity symbols with y and second parity symbols with z. When R=1/3, the relationship between the input and output of the turbo encoder  110  is shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0045]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the turbo encoder output is a sequence of an information symbol x 1 , a first parity symbol y 1 , a second parity symbol z 1 , an information symbol x 2 , a first parity symbol y 2 , a second parity symbol z 2 , an information symbol x 3 , a first parity symbol y 3 , a second parity symbol z 3 , . . . in this order.  
         [0046]     The 1 st  interleaver  120  interleaves encoded symbols at a TTI (Transmission Time Interval) according to the number of input symbols. Interleaving can be considered in two steps.  
         [0047]     First Step  
         [0048]     1. The total number of columns is determined referring to Table 1 shown below.  
         [0049]     2. A minimum integer R 1  is found in an equation given by 
 
 K   1   ≦R   1   ×C   1   (1) 
 
 where R 1  is the number of rows, K 1  is the length of the input block (total encoded symbols), and C 1  is the number of columns, wherein the number of columns C 1  is 1, 2, 4 or 8 according to TTIs. 
 
         [0050]     3. The input symbols of the 1 st -interleaver are sequentially arranged by rows in an rectangular array having R 1  rows and C 1  columns.  
         [0051]     Second Step  
         [0052]     1. Columns are reordered according to an inter-column permutation pattern {P 1 (j)}(j=0, 1, . . . , C−1) shown in Table 1. P 1 (j) represents the original column of a j th  permuted column and the pattern is derived by a bit reverse method. In the bit reverse method, the binary bit sequence of each number is reversed, e.g., 00→00, 01→10, 10→01, and 11→11, as shown by the 40 ms TTI row in Table 1.  
                               TABLE 1                                       Total number   inter-column           TTI   of columns   permutation patterns                           10 ms   1   {0}           20 ms   2   {0, 1}           40 ms   4   {0, 2, 1, 3}           80 ms   8   {0, 4, 2, 6, 1, 5, 3, 7}                      
 
         [0053]     2. The 1 st -interleaver output is a sequence resulting from reading the permuted R 1 ×C 1  array by columns. Bits that do not exist in the 1 st -interleaver input are excluded from outputting by eliminating I 1  defined as 
 
 I   1   =R   1   ×C   1   −K   1   (2) 
 
         [0054]     By interleaving using Eqs. 1 and 2, the 1 st  interleaver  120  outputs interleaved symbols in a similar pattern as a turbo encoder output pattern, that is, in the pattern of x, y, z, x, y, z, . . . (or x, z, y, x, z, y, . . . with parity symbols z and y exchanged in position).  
         [0055]     When TTI is 10 ms, the number of columns C 1  is 1. Therefore, the 1 st  interleaver input and the 1 st  interleaver output are identical.  
         [0056]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example of 1 st -interleaver input after turbo-encoding  160  input bits at R=1/3 and the TTI=80 ms. In  FIG. 4 , a blank rectangle denotes a system information symbol x, a rectangle marked with slant lines denotes a first parity symbol y, and a rectangle marked black denotes a second parity symbol z.  
         [0057]     In  FIG. 4 , the 1 st  interleaver  120  sequentially receives code symbols 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, . . . , 160 from the turbo encoder  110 . Each number represents an order of encoded symbol received from the turbo encoder  110 . The numbers also indicate the order by which each of the numbers has been received in the interleaver  120  (i.e., ‘1’ has been received first by the interleaver  120 , ‘2’ has been received second, etc.). Because of the nature of a turbo code, the 1 st -interleaver input follows the pattern of x, y, z, x, y, z, x, y, z,  
         [0058]      FIG. 5A  illustrates an example of 1 st -interleaver output when R=1/3 and TTI=20 ms. Referring to  FIG. 5A , the 1 st -interleaver output sequence is 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, . . . , 160 in an interleaved order in the pattern of x, z, y, x, z, y, x, z, y, . . .  
         [0059]      FIG. 5B  illustrates an example of 1 st -interleaver output when R=1/3 and TTI=40 ms. Referring to  FIG. 5B , the 1 st -interleaver output sequence is 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, . . . , 160 in an interleaved order in the pattern of x, y, z, x, y, z, x, y, z . . .  
         [0060]      FIG. 5C  illustrates an example of 1 st -interleaver output when R=1/3 and TTI=80 ms. Referring to  FIG. 5C , the 1 st -interleaver output sequence is 1, 9, 17, 25, 33, 41, 49, 57, 65, . . . , 160 in an interleaved order in the pattern of x, z, y, x, z, y, x, z, y . . .  
         [0061]      FIG. 6  illustrates an example of 1 st -interleaver input after turbo encoding  160  input bits at code rate R=1/2 and TTI=80 ms. When TTI=10 ms, the 1 st -interleaver input is identical to the 1 st -interleaver output. In  FIG. 6 , a blank rectangle denotes a system information symbol x and a rectangle marked with black dots denotes a parity symbol y.  
         [0062]     In  FIG. 6 , the 1 st  interleaver  120  sequentially receives encoded symbols 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, . . . , 160 from the turbo encoder  110 . Each number represents an order of encoded symbol received from the turbo encoder  110 . Because of the nature of the turbo code, the 1 st -interleaver input follows the pattern of x, y, x, y, x, y, . . .  
         [0063]      FIG. 7A  illustrates an example of 1 st -interleaver output when R=1/2 and TTI=20 ms. Referring to  FIG. 7A , the 1 st -interleaver output sequence is 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, . . . , 159, 2, 4, 6, 8, . . . , 160 in an interleaved order. The first half {1, 3, 5, . . . , 159} of the interleaver output is information symbols x, and the last half {2, 4, 6, . . . , 160} is parity symbols y. That is, the information symbols are followed by the parity symbols in the 1 st -interleaver output.  
         [0064]      FIG. 7B  illustrates an example of 1 st -interleaver output when R=1/2 and TTI=40 ms. Referring to  FIG. 7B , the 1 st -interleaver output sequence is 1, 5, 9, 13, . . . , 155, 159, 2, 6, 10, 14, . . . , 156, 160 in an interleaved order. The first half {1, 5, 9, 13, . . . , 159} of the interleaver output is information symbols x, and the last half {2, 6, 10, 14, . . . , 156, 160} is parity symbols y. That is, the information symbols are followed by the parity symbols in the 1 st -interleaver output.  
         [0065]      FIG. 7C  illustrates an example of 1 st -interleaver output when R=1/2 and TTI=80 ms. Referring to  FIG. 7C , the 1 st -interleaver output sequence is 1, 9, 17, 25, . . . , 127, 135, 143, 151, 159, 2, 10, 18, . . . , 144, 152, 160 in an interleaved order. The first half {1, 9, 17, 25, . . . , 143, 151, 159} of the interleaver output is information symbols x, and the last half {2, 10, 18, . . . , 144, 152, 160} is parity symbols y. That is, the information symbols are followed by the parity symbols in the 1 st -interleaver output.  
         [0066]     The interleaver outputs shown in  FIGS. 5A, 5B , and  5 C are given on the assumption that an interleaver size (=160) is an integer multiple of TTI/10 ms (=1, 2, 4, or 8). In case an interleaver size is not an integer multiple of TTI/10 ms, a different 1 st -interleaver output is produced.  
         [0067]     The radio frame segmenter  130  of  FIG. 2  segments a frame of 10, 20, 40, or 80 ms into 10-ms radio frame blocks. Because the ratio (L/T) of an input frame size (L) to the TTI (T=TTI/10 ms) of an input frame is not always an integer, the number (r) of filler bits is calculated by Eq. 3 to compensate for L/T with the filler bits (L is in units of bits or symbols). Here, T ε {1, 2, 4, 8}. If the input frame size (number of coded symbols) of the first interleaver is an integer multiple of TTI/10 ms, the filler bit is not needed (r=0). If the TTI is 20 ms and the input frame size is not an integer multiple of 2(TTI/10 ms), the number of filler bits r is 1. If the TTI is 40 ms and the input frame size is not an integer multiple of 4, the number of filler bit r can be 1, to 3. If the TTI is 80 ms and the input frame size is not an integer multiple of 8, the number of filler bits can be 1 to 7. The (L+r)/T value resulting from the filler bits is defined as R(number of row). 
 
 r=T −( L  mod  T )  (3) 
        where rε{0, 1, 2, 3, . . . T−1}. 
 
 R   i =( L   i   +r   i )/ T   i   (4) 
       
 
         [0069]     If r is not 0, the radio frame segmenter  130  inserts a filler bit into the last bit position of a corresponding frame from a (T−r+1) th  radio frame in order to maintain a radio frame size of R. The filler bit is arbitrarily chosen as a 0 or 1. Now a description will be made of the bit-basis operation of the radio frame segmenter  130 .  
         [0070]     For description of bits prior to processing in the radio frame segmenter  130 , it is assumed that the number of filler bits r has been calculated. Here, t represents the index of a radio frame, ranging from 1 through T (1≦t≦T). t=1 for the first radio frame, t=2 for the second radio frame, and similarly, t=T for the last radio frame. Each radio frame is the same size (L+r)/T. It is assumed that the 1 st -interleaver output is b 1 , b 2 , . . . , b L , T (=TTI/10 ms) E {1, 2, 4, 8}, and the radio frame segmenter output symbols are c 1 , c 2 , c (L+r)/T  in a 10-ms frame. Then,  
                                                                                                             TABLE 2                           output symbols of the radio frame segmenter for the first 10 msec: t = 1                c j  = b j     j = 1, 2, . . . , (L + r)/T            output symbols of the radio frame segmenter for the second 10 msec: t = 2                c j  = b (j+(L+r)/T)     j = 1, 2, . . . , (L + r)/T               .               .               .            output symbols of the radio frame segmenter       for the (T − r) th  10 msec: t = (T − r)                c j  = b (j+(T−r−1)(L+r)/T)     j = 1, 2, . . . , (L + r)/T            output symbols of the radio frame segmenter for       the (T − r + 1) th  10 msec: t = (T − r + 1) th                  c j  = b (j+(T−r)(L+r)/T)     j = 1, 2, . . . , (L + r)/T − 1           c j  = filler_bit (0/1)   j = (L + r)/T               .               .               .            output bits of the radio frame segmenter for the T th  10 msec: t = T                c j  = b (j+(T−1)(L+r)/T)     j = 1, 2, . . . , (L + r)/T − 1           c j  = filler_bit (0/1)   j = (L + r)/T                      
 
         [0071]     The purpose of using the component rate matchers  142 ,  143 , and  144  of  FIG. 2  is to increase the data transmission efficiency and improve system performance in a multiple-access/multiple-channel system using the above-described channel encoding mechanism. Rate matching refers to control of input bit number to output bit number through puncturing when the input size is larger than the output size or repetition when the input size is smaller than the output size. The symbol puncturing or repetition is generally performed periodically but the following should be considered for rate matching when a turbo code is used.  
         [0072]     1. Because the turbo code is a systematic code, a systematic information symbol part of encoded symbols should be excluded from puncturing.  
         [0073]     2. The minimum free distance between final codes preferably maximizes that of each component encoder since two component encoders are connected in parallel in a turbo encoder by definition of a turbo code. Therefore, the output symbols of the two component encoders should be equally punctured to achieve optimal performance.  
         [0074]     In the rate matching structure shown in  FIG. 2 , rate matching is implemented separately for each component rate matcher. The first, second, and third component rate matchers  142 ,  143 , and  144  subject an information symbol x, a first parity symbol y, and a second parity symbol z, respectively, to rate matching. According to a given input and output sizes, each rate matcher performs puncturing/repetition on a predetermined number of symbols. This rate matching structure is built on the assumption that the DEMUX  141  outputs x, y, z, separately. Hence, the DEMUX  141  should be able to separate a radio frame received from the radio frame segmenter  130  into symbols x, y, z in a certain order.  
         [0075]     A description of radio frame output patterns of the radio frame segmenter  130  will be given. Radio frames are read down by columns and each column corresponds to a radio frame.  
         [0076]      FIG. 8A  illustrates an output pattern of the radio frame segmenter  130  when R=1/3 and TTI=10 ms. Referring to  FIG. 8A , a radio frame output pattern is identical to a radio frame input pattern, that is, x, y, z, x, y, z, . . .  
         [0077]      FIG. 8B  illustrates an output pattern of the radio frame segmenter  130  when code rate R=1/3 and TTI=20 ms. Referring to  FIG. 8B , a first radio frame RF # 1  is output in the pattern of x, z, y, x, z, y, . . . and a second radio frame RF # 2  is output in a radio frame pattern of . . . , x, y, x, z, y, x, z, . . . The output patterns correspond to the output from the 1 st  interleaver shown in  FIG. 5A .  
         [0078]      FIG. 8C  illustrates an output pattern of the radio frame segmenter  130  when R=1/3 and TTI=40 ms. Referring to  FIG. 8C , a first radio frame RF # 1  is output in the pattern of . . . , x, y, z, x, y, z, . . . , a second radio frame RF # 2  in the pattern of . . . z, x, y, z, x, y, . . . , a third radio frame RF # 3  in the pattern of . . . , y, z, x, y, z, x, . . . , and a fourth radio frame RF # 4  in the pattern of . . . , x, y, z, x, y, z, . . . The output patterns correspond to the output from the 1 st  interleaver shown in  FIG. 5B .  
         [0079]      FIG. 8D  illustrates an output pattern of the radio frame segmenter  130  when R=1/3 and TTI=80 ms. Referring to  FIG. 8D , a first radio frame RF # 1  is output in the pattern of . . . , x, z, y, x, z, y, . . . , a second radio frame RF # 2  in the pattern of . . . , y, x, z, y, x, z, . . . , a third radio frame RF # 3  in the pattern of . . . , z, y, x, z, y, x, . . . , a fourth radio frame RF # 4  in the pattern of . . . , x, z, y, x, z, y, . . . , a fifth radio frame RF # 5  in the pattern of . . . , y, x, z, y, x, z, . . . , a sixth radio frame # 6  in the pattern of . . . , z, y, x, z, y, x, a seventh radio frame RF # 7  in the pattern of . . . , x, z, y, x, z, y, . . . , and an eighth radio frame RF # 8  in the pattern of . . . , y, x, z, y, x, z . . . The output patterns correspond to the output from the 1 st  interleaver shown in  FIG. 5C .  
         [0080]     Output patterns of the radio frame segmenter  130  have a certain regularity. Each radio frame pattern with the same TTI has a different initial symbol x, y, or z but has the same symbol repeating pattern. For TTIs=10 ms and 40 ms, symbols are repeated in the pattern of . . . x, y, z, x, y, z, . . . , and for TTIs=20 ms and 80 ms, symbols are repeated in the pattern of x, z, y, x, z, y, . . .  
         [0081]     The radio frames in the above cases are free of a filler bit. This is because the input size is an integer multiple of TTI/10 ms. When filler bits are to be inserted, radio frames have different patterns from the above-described patterns. The first through fourth embodiments as described below pertain to insertion of filler bits.  
       First Embodiment  
       [0082]      FIGS. 9A, 9B , and  9 C illustrate 1 st -interleaver input, 1 st -interleaver output, and radio frame segmenter output according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0083]     If the input of the 1 st  interleaver  120  for TTI=80 ms is given in  FIG. 9A , it is interleaved by columns according to an interleaving rule of the 1 st  interleaver  120 , as shown in  FIG. 9B . Then, symbols are read down each column starting from the left to the right column in the array of  FIG. 9B . The resulting 1 st -interleaver output (i.e., the radio segmenter input) is x, z, y, x, z, y, x, z, y, z, y, x, z, y, x, z, y, x, y, x, z, y, x, z, y, x, z, x, z, y, x, z, y, x, z, y. The output of the radio frame segmenter  130  results from adding filler bits to the radio frame segmenter input.  
         [0084]     In the first embodiment, the filler bits are 0s. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the radio frame segmenter  130  outputs the symbols received from the interleaver  120  in a such way that the all of the filler bits are placed towards the end of the last row, as shown in  FIG. 9C . In  FIG. 9B , the last positions in the second, fourth, sixth and eight columns are empty. Instead of filling those positions with filler bits, the next symbol coming after the empty position is used to fill the empty position. For example, to fill the last position in the second column, the ‘z’ symbol from the first position in the third column is moved in to the empty position in the second column. The position previously occupied by the ‘z’ symbol is now occupied by the ‘y’ symbol, which came after the ‘z’ symbol in the third column. Basically the positions of the symbols have been pushed up by one position. This process is repeated to fill the empty position in the fourth column, and so on. However, the last positions in the last four columns (i.e., column # 5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8 ) are filled with the filler bits so that the filler bits are pushed towards the end of the last row, as shown in  FIG. 9C . Symbols in the array of  FIG. 9C  are read column by column and each column represents one radio frame. As shown in  FIG. 9C , each radio frame has a different initial symbol but follows the same symbol repeating pattern of x, z, y, except for radio frames  4  and  6  because of the position shifting. However, the repeating patterns for the radio frames  4  and  6 , which are shown below in Table 15, can be used. The patterns in the radio frames follow the predetermined repeating patterns shown in Table 15 except for the tail ends of certain radio frames. In those cases, the tail ends are ignored and treated as if the tail ends follow the predetermined repeating patterns shown in Table 15 and are rated matched according to the predetermined repeating patterns. That is, the radio frames have different initial symbols in the filler bit inserting case, as compared to the filler bit-free case.  
         [0085]     Although filler bits are inserted, radio frames may have the same initial symbols as those in the filler bit-free case. An example of such a case using three filler bits for TTI=40 ms will be described.  
         [0086]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate 1 st -interleaver input, 1 st -interleaver output, and radio frame segmenter output according to the first embodiment.  
         [0087]     If the input of the 1 st  interleaver  120  for TTI=40 ms is given in  FIG. 10A , it is interleaved by columns according to an interleaving rule of the 1 st  interleaver  120  as shown in  FIG. 10B . The resulting 1 st -interleaver output (i.e., the radio segmenter input) is x, y, z, x, y, z, z, x, y, z, x, y, z, x, y, z, x, y, z, x, y. The output of the radio frame segmenter  130  shown in  FIG. 10C  results from adding filler bits to the radio frame segmenter input.  
         [0088]     The filler bits are 0s. Symbols in the array of  FIG. 10C  are read column by column and each column represents one radio frame. As shown in  FIG. 10C , each radio frame has a different initial symbol but follows the same symbol repetition pattern of . . . , x, y, z, . . . That is, the radio frames have the same initial symbols in this filler bit inserting case as those in the filler bit-free case.  
         [0089]     The initial symbol of each radio frame is determined by a TTI and the number of filler bits added by the radio frame segmenter  130 . Herein below, initial symbols in all possible cases will be described. Tables 3 to 6 list initial symbols for TTIs=10, 20, 40, and 80 ms, respectively, when the radio frame segmenter  130  outputs radio frames RF# 1 , RF # 2 , RF # 3 , RF # 4 , RF # 5 , RF # 6 , RF # 7 , and RF # 8  sequentially.  
                             TABLE 3                           TTL = 10 ms                total number   Initial symbol of           of filler bits   RF #1                       0   x                      
 
         [0090]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTL = 20 ms 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 total number 
                 Initial symbol of 
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 of filler bits 
                 RF #1 
                 RF #2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 0, 1 
                 X 
                 y 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0091]     In Table 4, since the 1 st  interleaver  120  leaves the columns intact, positions are not changed when one filler bit is used. Consequently, the initial symbols are the same as those in the filler bit-free case.  
                                                           TABLE 5                           TTL = 40 ms                total number   Initial symbol of                    of filler bits   RF #1   RF #2   RF #3   RF #4                       0, 1, 3   x   z   y   x           2   x   z   z   x                      
 
         [0092]     When one or three filler bits are used, the number of symbols in each column before interleaving is equal to that of symbols in the column of the same index after interleaving. Therefore, the initial symbols are the same as those in the filler bit-free case. If two filler bits are used, the number of symbols in each column before interleaving is different from that of symbols in the column of the same index after interleaving. Therefore, the initial symbols are different from those in the filler bit-free case.  
                                                               TABLE 6                           TTL = 80 ms            total number   initial symbol of            of filler bits   RF #1   RF #2   RF #3   RF #4   RF #5   RF #6   RF #7   RF #8               0, 1, 7   x   y   z   x   Y   z   x   y       2, 3   x   y   z   x   X   y   z   y       4   x   y   y   z   Z   y   z   y       5, 6   x   y   y   z   X   z   x   y                  
 
         [0093]     When one or seven filler bits are used, the number of symbols in each column before interleaving is equal to that of symbols in the column of the same index after interleaving. Therefore, the initial symbols are the same as those in the filler bit-free case. If two, three, four, five, or six filler bits are used, the number of symbols in each column before interleaving is different from that of symbols in the column of the same index after interleaving. Therefore, the initial symbols are different from those in the filler bit-free case.  
         [0094]     As noted from the above tables, symbols are repeated in the pattern of x, y, z, x, y, z, for TTIs=10 ms and 40 ms, whereas symbols are repeated in the pattern of x, z, y, x, z, y, for TTIs=20 ms and 80 ms.  
         [0095]     Therefore, given a TTI and the number of filler bits to be inserted by the radio frame segmenter  130 , the DEMUX  141  demultiplexes 1 st -interleaver output in the above-described manner.  
       Second Embodiment  
       [0096]      FIGS. 11A  to  11 D illustrate 1 st -interleaver input, 1 st -interleaver output, and radio frame segmenter output according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiments in that filler bits are inserted by the 1 st  interleaver  120  instead of the radio frame segmenter  130 . Instead of pushing the filler bit positions to the end of the last row, as in the first embodiment (i.e.,  FIG. 9C ), the interleaver  120  fills the empty positions with filler bits, as shown in  FIG. 1C . In terms of initial symbols and repeating patterns, this case is the same as the typical filler bit-free case.  
         [0097]     If the input of the 1 st  interleaver  120  for TTI=80 ms is given as in  FIG. 11A , it is interleaved by columns according to an interleaving rule of the 1 st  interleaver  120  as shown in  FIG. 11B . Then, filler bits are inserted to the array of  FIG. 11B  as shown in  FIG. 11C . Here, the filler bits are 0s. Therefore, the 1 5t -interleaver output, i.e., the radio frame segmenter input is a sequence of x, z, y, x, z, y, z, y, 0, z, y, x, z, y, x, z, y, x, 0, y, x, z, y, x, z, y, x, z, 0, x, z, y, x, z, y, x, z, y, O. The output of the radio frame segmenter  130  is shown in  FIG. 11D .  
         [0098]     The symbols in the array of  FIG. 11D  are read down by column from left to right and each column is a radio frame. As shown in  FIG. 11D , each radio frame follows the same repeating pattern of x, z, y with a different initial symbol. As noted from  FIGS. 11A  to  11 D, the initial symbols are the same as those in the general filler bit-free case.  
         [0099]     The initial symbol of each radio frame is determined by a TTI. Tables 7 to 10 list initial symbols for TTIs=10, 20, 40, and 80 ms, respectively, when the radio frame segmenter  130  outputs radio frames RF# 1 , RF # 2 , RF # 3 , RF # 4 , RF # 5 , RF # 6 , RF # 7 , and RF # 8  sequentially. The initial symbols of the radio frames in the second embodiment are independent of the total number of the filler bits, as shown below; however, in the first embodiment, the initial symbols of the radio frames are dependent on the total number of the filler bits.  
               TABLE 7                       TTI = 10 ms       initial symbol of       RF #1                   x                  
 
         [0100]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 8 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTI = 20 ms 
               
               
                 initial symbol of 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 RF #1 
                 RF #2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 x 
                 y 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0101]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 9 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTI = 40 ms 
               
               
                 initial symbol 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 RF #1 
                 RF #2 
                 RF #3 
                 RF #4 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 x 
                 z 
                 y 
                 x 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0102]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 10 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTI = 80 ms 
               
               
                 initial symbol of 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 RF 
               
               
                 RF #1 
                 RF #2 
                 RF #3 
                 RF #4 
                 RF #5 
                 RF #6 
                 RF #7 
                 #8 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 X 
                 y 
                 z 
                 x 
                 y 
                 z 
                 x 
                 y 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0103]     As noted from the above tables, symbols are repeated in the pattern of x, y, z, x, y, z, for TTIs=10 ms and 40 ms, whereas symbols are repeated in the pattern of x, z, y, x, z, y, for TTIs=20 ms and 80 ms.  
         [0104]     Therefore, given a TTI, the DEMUX  141  demultiplexes 1 st -interleaver output in the above-described manner.  
       Third Embodiment  
       [0105]      FIGS. 12A, 12B , and  12 C illustrate 1 st -interleaver input, 1 st -interleaver output, and radio frame segmenter output according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is different from the second embodiments in that a controller (host) designates filler bit insertion positions and the radio frame segmenter  130  inserts the filler bits in the designated positions. In terms of initial symbols and repeating patterns, this case is the same as the typical filler bit-free case.  
         [0106]     If the input of the 1 st  interleaver  120  for TTI=80 ms is given in  FIG. 12A , it is interleaved by columns according to an interleaving rule of the 1 st  interleaver  120  as shown in  FIG. 12B . Therefore, the 1 st -interleaver output, i.e., the radio frame segmenter input is a sequence of x, z, y, x, z, y, x, z, y, z, y, x, z, y, x, z, y, x, y, x, z, y, x, z, y, x, z, x, z, y, x, z, y, x, z, y. A controller (host) designates filler bit insertion positions and then the radio frame segmenter  130  inserts the filler bits in the designated positions as shown in  FIG. 12C .  
         [0107]     In this embodiment, the filler bits are 0s. The symbols in the array of  FIG. 12C  are read down column by column from left to right and each column is a radio frame. As shown in  FIG. 12C , each radio frame follows the same repeating pattern of x, z, y with a different initial symbol. As noted from  FIGS. 12A, 12B , and  12 C, initial symbols are the same as those in the general filler bit-free case.  
         [0108]     The initial symbol of each radio frame is determined by a TTI. Tables 11 to 14 list initial symbols for TTIs=10, 20, 40, and 80 ms, respectively, when the radio frame segmenter  130  outputs radio frames RF# 1 , RF # 2 , RF # 3 , RF # 4 , RF # 5 , RF # 6 , RF # 7 , and RF # 8  sequentially. The initial symbols of the radio frames in the third embodiment are independent of the total number of the filler bits, as shown below.  
               TABLE 11                       TTI = 10 ms       initial symbol of       RF #1                   x                  
 
         [0109]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 12 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTI = 20 ms 
               
               
                 initial symbol of 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 RF #1 
                 RF #2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 X 
                 y 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0110]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 13 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTL = 40 ms 
               
               
                 initial symbol 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 RF #1 
                 RF #2 
                 RF #3 
                 RF #4 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 X 
                 z 
                 y 
                 x 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0111]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 14 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTL = 80 ms 
               
               
                 initial symbol of 
               
             
          
           
               
                 RF 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 #1 
                 RF #2 
                 RF #3 
                 RF #4 
                 RF #5 
                 RF #6 
                 RF #7 
                 RF #8 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 X 
                 y 
                 z 
                 x 
                 y 
                 z 
                 x 
                 y 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0112]     As noted from the above tables, symbols are repeated in the pattern of x, y, z, x, y, z, for TTIs=10 ms and 40 ms, whereas symbols are repeated in the pattern of x, z, y, x, z, y, for TTIs=20 ms and 80 ms.  
         [0113]     Given a TTI, the DEMUX  141  demultiplexes 1 st -interleaver output in the above-described manner.  
         [0114]     Returning to  FIG. 2 , the DEMUX  141  demultiplexes a radio frame received from the radio frame segmenter  130  into its symbols x, y, z, according to a switching rule. The switching rule is determined by a TTI and the number of filler bits used by the radio frame segmenter  130  in the first embodiment and a TTI in the second and third embodiments. The symbols are repeated in a certain pattern. The repeating patterns for the embodiments are tabulated in Tables 15 and 16. In the tables, N/A indicates “not applicable”.  
                                                                       TABLE 15                           For First Embodiment                total number   Switching rules (repeating patterns)            TTI   of filler bits   RF #1   RF #2   RF #3   RF #4   RF #5   RF #6   RF #7   RF #8               10 ms   0   x, y, z   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A       20 ms   0, 1   x, z, y   y, x, z   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A       40 ms   0, 1, 3   x, y, z   z, x, y   y, z, x   x, y, z   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A           2   x, y, z   z, x, y   z, x, y   x, y, z   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A       80 ms   0, 1, 7   x, z, y   y, x, z   z, y, x   x, z, y   y, x, z   z, y, x   x, z, y   y, x, z           2, 3   x, z, y   y, x, z   z, y, x   x, z, y   x, z, y   y, x, z   z, y, x   y, x, z           4   x, z, y   y, x, z   y, x, z   z, y, x   z, y, x   y, x, z   z, y, x   y, x, z           5, 6   x, z, y   y, x, z   y, x, z   z, y, x   x, z, y   z, y, x   x, z, y   y, x, z                  
 
         [0115]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 16 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 For Second and Third Embodiments 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Switching rules (repeating patterns) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 TTI 
                 RF #1 
                 RF #2 
                 RF #3 
                 RF #4 
                 RF #5 
                 RF #6 
                 RF #7 
                 RF #8 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 10 ms 
                 x, y, z 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 20 ms 
                 x, z, y 
                 y, x, z 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 40 ms 
                 x, y, z 
                 z, x, y 
                 y, z, x 
                 x, y, z 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 80 ms 
                 x, z, y 
                 y, x, z 
                 z, y, x 
                 x, z, y 
                 y, x, z 
                 z, y, x 
                 x, z, y 
                 y, x, z 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0116]     If two filler bits are used for TTI=40 ms in the first and second embodiments, the switching patterns in the DEMUX  141  are x, y, z, x, y, z for the first radio frame, z, x, y, z, x, y for the second radio frame, z, x, y, z, x, y for the third radio frame, and x, y, z, x, y, z for the fourth radio frame.  
         [0117]     In the second and third embodiments, the initial symbol of each radio frame only needs to be given because the repeating patterns are already predetermined based on the TTI. However, in the first embodiment, the total number of the filler bits also needs to be given in addition to the other information. Tables 17-19 reflect that difference between the embodiments.  
                                                                       TABLE 17                           For First Embodiment                total number   Initial symbol of            TTI   of filler bits   RF #1   RF #2   RF #3   RF #4   RF #5   RF #6   RF #7   RF #8               10 ms   0   x   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A       20 ms   0, 1   x   y   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A       40 ms   0, 1, 3   x   z   y   x   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A           2   x   z   z   x   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A       80 ms   0, 1, 7   x   y   z   x   y   z   x   y           2, 3   x   y   z   x   x   y   z   y           4   x   y   y   z   z   y   z   y           5, 6   x   y   y   z   x   z   x   y                  
 
         [0118]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 18 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 For Second and Third Embodiments 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 initial symbol of 
               
             
          
           
               
                 TTI 
                 RF #1 
                 RF #2 
                 RF #3 
                 RF #4 
                 RF #5 
                 RF #6 
                 RF #7 
                 RF #8 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 10 ms 
                 x, y, z 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 20 ms 
                 x, z, y 
                 y, x, z 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 40 ms 
                 x, y, z 
                 z, x, y 
                 y, z, x 
                 x, y, z 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 80 ms 
                 x, z, y 
                 y, x, z 
                 z, y, x 
                 x, z, y 
                 y, x, z 
                 z, y, x 
                 x, z, y 
                 y, x, z 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0119]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 19 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Repeating Patterns 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 TTI 
                 Repeating patterns 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 10 ms, 40 ms 
                 . . . , x, y, z, x, y, z, . . . 
               
               
                   
                 20 ms, 80 ms 
                 . . . , x, z, y, x, z, y, . . . 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0120]     Referring to  FIG. 2  again, the MUX  145  multiplexes three streams received from the component rate matchers  142 ,  143 , and  144  to one stream, to thereby generate a rate-matched radio frame with the same symbol pattern as before rate matching. Because this MUX  145  is the counterpart of the DEMUX  141 , it switches according to the same switching patterns.  
         [0121]      FIG. 13  is a block diagram of a DEMUX and MUX controlling apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0122]     Referring to  FIG. 13 , upon receipt of a TTI, the total number of the filler bits, and a radio frame length from the host  200 , the controller  210  feeds the TTI, the total number of the filler bits, and the radio frame index of a current radio frame to the memory  220  (see Table 17) and receives the initial symbol of the current radio frame from the memory  220 . The controller  210  controls the switching operations of the DEMUX  141  and the MUX  145  based on the initial symbol and a repeating/puncturing pattern determined by the TTI. The DEMUX  141  separates the current radio frame symbols into input for the corresponding component rate matchers and the MUX  145  multiplexes the output symbols of the rate matchers to a radio frame. Here, the DEMUX  141  separates an information symbol, a first parity symbol, and a second parity symbol from a radio frame stream received from the radio frame segmenter  130 . The component rate matchers  142 ,  143 , and  144  rate match the information symbol, the first parity symbol, and the second parity symbol from the DEMUX  141 , respectively, by puncturing or repetition. The component rate matcher  142  just bypasses the received information symbols without real puncturing, whereas the component rate matchers  143  and  144  puncture the received parity symbols according to a preset pattern which is determined by the ratio of the number of input symbols to the number of output symbols. In most of the real cases, the component rate matchers  143  and  144  just bypass the received parity symbols without real repetition except heavy repetition of the encoded symbols, whereas the component rate matcher  142  repeats the received information symbols according to a preset pattern determined by the ratio of the number of input symbols to the number of output symbols.  
         [0123]     The MUX  145  multiplexes the symbols received from the component rate matchers  142 ,  143 , and  144  to one stream according to the same switching pattern as used in the DEMUX  141 .  
         [0124]      FIG. 14  is a block diagram of a DEMUX and MUX controlling apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0125]     Referring to  FIG. 14 , upon receipt of a TTI and a radio frame length from the host  200 , the controller  210  feeds the TTI, the total number of filler bits, and the radio frame index of a current radio frame to memory  220  (see Table 17) and receives the initial symbol of the current radio frame from memory  220 . The number of filler bits is determined by the controller  210  based on the TTI and the frame length in the same manner as used in the radio frame segmenter. Then, the controller  210  controls the switching operations of the DEMUX  141  and the MUX  145  based on the initial symbol and a repeating/puncturing pattern determined by the TTI. The DEMUX  141  separates the current radio frame symbols into component rate matchers input and the MUX  145  multiplexes the output symbols of the rate-matchers to a radio frame. Here, the DEMUX  141  separates an information symbol, a first parity symbol, and a second parity symbol from a radio frame stream received from the radio frame segmenter  130 .  
         [0126]     The component rate matchers  142 ,  143 , and  144  rate match the information symbol, the first parity symbol, and the second parity symbol from the DEMUX  141 , respectively, by puncturing or repetition. The component rate matcher  142  just bypasses the received information symbol without real puncturing, whereas component rate matchers  143  and  144  puncture the received parity symbols according to a preset pattern determined by the ratio of the number of input symbols to the number of output symbols. In most of the real cases, the component rate matchers  143  and  144  just bypass the received parity symbols without real repetition except heavy repetition of the encoded symbols, whereas the component rate matcher  142  repeats the received information symbols according to a preset pattern determined by the ratio of the number of input symbols to the number of output symbols. The MUX  145  multiplexes the symbols received from the component rate matchers  142 ,  143 , and  144  to one stream according to the same switching pattern as used in the DEMUX  141 .  
         [0127]      FIG. 15  is a block diagram of a DEMUX and MUX controlling apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0128]     Referring to  FIG. 15 , upon receipt of a TTI and a radio frame length from the host  200 , the controller  210  feeds the TTI and the radio frame index of a current radio frame to memory  220  (see Table 18) and receives the initial symbol of the current radio frame from memory  220 . Then, the controller  210  controls the switching operations of the DEMUX  141  and the MUX  145  based on the initial symbol and a repeating/puncturing pattern determined by the TTI. The DEMUX  141  separates the current radio frame symbols into input for the component rate matchers and the MUX  145  multiplexes the output symbols of the rate matchers to a radio frame. Here, the DEMUX  141  separates an information symbol, a first parity symbol, and a second parity symbol from a radio frame stream received from the radio frame segmenter  130 . The component rate matchers  142 ,  143 , and  144  rate match the information symbol, the first parity symbol, and the second parity symbol from the DEMUX  141 , respectively, by puncturing or repetition. The component rate matcher  142  just bypasses the received information symbol without real rate puncturing, whereas component rate matchers  143  and  144  puncture or repeat the received parity symbols according to a pattern preset determined by the ratio of the number of input symbols to the number of output symbols. The MUX  145  multiplexes the symbols received from the component rate matchers  142 ,  143 , and  145  to one stream according to the same switching pattern as used in the DEMUX  141 . In most of the real cases, the component rate matchers  143  and  144  just bypass the received parity symbols without real repetition except heavy repetition of the encoded symbols, whereas the component rate matcher  142  repeats the received information symbols according to a preset pattern determined by the ratio of the number of input symbols to the number of output symbols.  
         [0129]     As described above, the present invention is advantageous in that effective rate matching can be performed by adding a DEMUX before a rate matching unit to separate an information symbol and parity symbols of the encoded symbols when the information symbol is not to be punctured for rate matching in an uplink transmitter in a mobile communication system.  
         [0130]     While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.