Patent ID: 8453037

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a plurality of inputs for respectively receiving a plurality of bit streams each selectively including at least one zero padded bit and at least one dummy padded bit; and a combined de-padding module for selectively de-padding: at least one of a first at least one zero padded bit and a first at least one dummy padded bit from a first of the plurality of bit streams, when present and based on decision making corresponding to the first of the plurality of bit streams thereby generating a first of a plurality of de-padded bit streams; at least one of a second at least one zero padded bit and a second at least one dummy padded bit from a second of the plurality of bit streams, when present and based on decision making corresponding to the second of the plurality of bit streams thereby generating a second of the plurality of de-padded bit streams; and combining the first of the plurality of de-padded bit streams and the second of the plurality of de-padded bit streams in accordance with generating the output information bit stream; and wherein: a modulator for modulating the output information bit stream thereby generating a signal comporting with a communication channel; and an output for launching the signal into the communication channel.