Patent ID: 7924950

Claim:
A decoder for decoding an encoded data frame including dummy bit sequences each generated from encoding a predetermined bit pattern, the decoder comprising: a boundary detecting module, configured to determine a boundary of the dummy bit sequences in the encoded data frame; a decoding module, coupled to the boundary detecting module, the decoding module configured to decode encoded bits beyond the boundary according to the predetermined bit pattern and accordingly generate a partial decoding result, wherein the encoded bits beyond the boundary is decoded according to a Viterbi decoding, the dummy bit sequences within the boundary are sandwiched by a first portion of the encoded bits beyond the boundary and a second portion of the encoded bits beyond the boundary, and the decoding module decodes the encoded bits beyond the boundary by: decoding the first portion of the encoded bits according to a first part of the predetermined bit pattern serving as a first reference state of the Viterbi decoding; and decoding the second portion of the encoded bits according to a second part of the predetermined bit pattern serving as a second reference state of the Viterbi decoding; and a control module, coupled to the boundary detecting module and the decoding module, the control module configured to generate a decoded data frame according to the partial decoding result and a plurality of predetermined bit patterns each corresponding to one of the dummy bit sequences within the boundary.