Patent ID: 7191377

Claim:
A combined turbo-code/convolutional code decoder comprising: turbo-code decoding means for performing turbo-code decoding and convolutional code decoding means for performing convolutional coding, said turbo-code and convolutional code decoding means comprising common processing means forming a soft-in soft-out (SISO) unit having a first configuration dedicated to turbo-code decoding and a second configuration dedicated to convolutional code decoding; metrics memory means for storing state metrics associated to states of a first trellis delivered by said common processing means in the first configuration; input/output memory means for storing input and output data delivered to and by said common processing means in the second configuration; adaptable memory means for storing input and output data delivered to and by said common processing means in the first configuration, and for storing state metrics associated to states of a second trellis delivered by said common processing means in the second configuration; control means for configuring said common processing means in the first or second configuration depending on the code type; and memory control means for addressing said adaptable memory means depending on the configuration of said common processing means.