Patent ID: 7607072

Claim:
A method for processing a received signal using a multiple-step trellis, said method comprising the steps of: determining at least three selection signals that define a plurality of paths through a multiple-step trellis into a given state, wherein a first of said plurality of paths is a winning path for each single-step-trellis period of a multiple-step-trellis cycle, a second of said plurality of paths is a winning path for a first single-step-trellis period and is a losing path for a second single-step-trellis period of a multiple-step-trellis cycle and a third of said plurality of paths is a losing path for a first single-step-trellis period and is a winning path for a second single-step-trellis period of a multiple-step-trellis cycle, wherein each of said paths has a corresponding bit decision and wherein one or more of said selection signals selects one of said corresponding bit decisions associated with each of said plurality of paths; and determining a reliability value for at least one bit decision.