Patent ID: 8433004

Claim:
A method, performed by a data processor, for processing electromagnetic signals representing convolutionally encoded data streams, the method comprising: while performing a trellis search of a convolutionally encoded data stream of bit length L, where L is an integer: storing decision bit data representing results of the trellis search for a first D bits of the convolutionally encoded data stream in a (D×N)-bit register accessible by the processor, where D is an integer greater than zero and less than L, and ordering the decision bit data according to the results of the trellis search for the first D bits of the convolutionally encoded data stream; storing decision bits representing results of the trellis search for a subsequent L−D bits of the convolutionally encoded data stream in random access memory accessible by the processor; and upon completion of the trellis search for the first D bits of the convolutionally encoded data stream, commencing, starting with a (D+1) st bit of the convolutionally encoded data stream, a first trace-forward process; and upon completion of the trellis search for a first P bits of the convolutionally encoded data stream, where P is an integer greater than D and less than L, commencing, starting with a (P+1) st bit of the convolutionally encoded data stream, a second trace-forward process.