Patent ID: 7657822

Claim:
A bit level decoding method, comprising: receiving a signal that includes a symbol having a plurality of bits; extracting I,Q (In-phase, Quadrature) components of the symbol; calculating a plurality of symbol metrics for the symbol using the I,Q components; decomposing the plurality of symbol metrics into a plurality of bit metrics; wherein the plurality of bit metrics is representative of the individual bits of the plurality of bits of the symbol; performing iterative decoding using the plurality of bit metrics; wherein the plurality of bit metrics is updated during each iteration of the iterative decoding for use in a current decoding iteration, such that each respective bit metric of the plurality of bit metrics is updated using extrinsic information corresponding to that respective bit from a previous decoding iteration; making soft bit decisions that correspond to the individual bits of the plurality of bits of the symbol; and making hard bit decisions, based on the soft bit decisions, that correspond to best estimates of bit values of the individual bits of the plurality of bits of the symbol; and wherein: the signal is a variable code rate signal whose code rate varies on a symbol by symbol basis; the symbol within the signal is encoded according to a first RC (Rate Control); at least one additional symbol within the signal is encoded according to a second RC; the first RC includes a first modulation having a first constellation and a first mapping; and the second RC includes a second modulation having a second constellation and a second mapping.