Patent ID: 8019030

Claim:
A decoder apparatus for decoding a first input set of demodulated data elements obtained by demodulating transmitted data elements received over a transmission channel so as to obtain a corresponding output set of decoded data elements, the decoder apparatus including: a first register operable to receive the demodulated data elements of the first input set; a second register operable to receive a second input set of channel description elements related to the transmission channel, wherein the number of demodulated data elements of the first input set and the number of channel description elements of the second input set being equal to a first number that depends on a selected transmission diversity scheme selected among at least two transmission diversity schemes that can be adopted for the transmission of the transmitted data elements; a first selector coupled to the first register and operable to select the demodulated data elements from the first input set; a second selector coupled to the second register and operable to select the channel description elements from the second input set; a combiner coupled to the first and the second selectors and operable to combine the selected demodulated data elements with the selected channel description elements; and a controller coupled to the first and second selectors and to the combiner, and adapted to generate a plurality of signals defining a control sequence for driving the first and second selectors and the combiner, wherein said controller is adapted to be configured so as to generate at least two control sequences according to the selected transmission diversity scheme.