Patent ID: 7403138

Claim:
A method of converting a user bitstream into a coded bitstream by means of an overall channel code comprising the steps of converting M-bit information words into N-bit code words, realizing said overall channel code by concatenating a number S of sub-codes in a cyclically repeated order with a predetermined repeat period, wherein each of the sub-codes receives m i -bit information words, wherein m i is an integer characteristic for each of the sub-codes, that are converted into n i -bit code words, wherein n i is an integer characteristic for each of the sub-codes, and wherein for each sub-code, said characteristic integer number n i is greater than said characteristic integer number m i , such that a sum of the m i -numbers of all sub-codes within said repeat period equals M, and that a sum of the n i -numbers of all sub-codes within said repeat period equals N, and: dividing for each sub-code, its n i -bit code words into a number of T max different code-word types and arranging its n i -bit code words into T max coding classes of coding states such that, for a given sub-code, an n i -bit code word of type t, wherein t is an integer number between 1 and T max , can be concatenated into a concatenated set of code words, realizing said N-bit code-words of said overall channel code that generates said coded bitstream, with an n i+1 -bit code word of the next sub-code if a subsequent code word of said next sub-code belongs to one of coding states of the coding class with index T max +1−t.