Convolutional Code Rate Matching With a Universal Interleaver

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rate matching circuits for convolutional codes in mobile communication systems have high complexity and require different interleavers for different parity bit streams, leading to performance degradation and increased complexity in channel encoders.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a rate 1/3 tail-biting convolutional code with a constraint length k=7 and generator polynomial [133, 171, 165] using identical interleavers for all coded bit streams, and a rate-matching circuit that outputs parity bits in group-multiplexed format, allowing for puncturing or repeating to match the data transmission channel rate, thereby reducing complexity and improving performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If different interleavers are used for different parity bit streams in conventional rate matching circuits, then the performance degradation during channel decoding is prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel decoding performanceVSAvoidinterleaver complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functionality of multiple different interleavers into a single universal interleaver that processes all parity bit streams uniformly. This is achieved by applying the same interleaving pattern to all three parity bit streams from the rate 1/3 convolutional encoder, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to prevent performance degradation through proper rate matching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal interleaver that serves multiple functions: it interleaves all parity bit streams from different encoder outputs using the same structure. This universal approach simplifies the overall system architecture while still achieving the desired performance by combining the interleaved streams with the information bits in a controlled manner for rate matching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple different interleavers are implemented for various coded bit streams, then performance degradation is prevented, but the channel encoder complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel encoding performanceVSAvoidchannel encoder complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple interleaving operations into a single interleaving stage that processes all coded bit streams uniformly. By using one interleaver structure for all parity bit streams rather than multiple different interleavers, the channel encoder complexity is reduced while maintaining performance through the unified interleaving and subsequent rate matching process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional rate matching circuits with bit-multiplexing are used, then data transmission rate matching is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission rate matchingVSAvoidrate matching circuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the rate matching function from a complex bit-multiplexing circuit and implements it through a simpler selection process. Instead of using multiple interleavers followed by complex bit-multiplexing, the invention uses a single interleaver followed by a straightforward selection of information bits and interleaved parity bits based on the target code rate, thereby achieving adaptability with reduced complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3624373B1Computationally efficient convolutional coding with rate-matching
Publication Date: 2022.05.11 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3624373B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3624373B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3624373B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An error coding circuit comprises a non-systematic convolutional encoder for coding an input bit stream to produce two or more groups of parity bits, an interleaver circuit for interleaving parity bits within each group of parity bits, and a rate-matching circuit for outputting a selected number of the interleaved parity bits ordered by group to obtain a desired code rate.