Layered PAC Concatenated Coding for Low-FER High-Throughput Decoding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Polarization adjusted convolutional (PAC) codes face challenges in practical utility due to variability in computational complexity, throughput bottlenecks, and the need for extreme low frame error rates (FER) in applications like fiber-optic data transmission and hard-disk storage, which existing technologies struggle to address effectively.

Innovation Solution

A concatenated coding scheme employing PAC codes as inner codes within a generalized concatenated coding (GCC) framework, utilizing layered polarization adjusted convolutional (LPAC) codes with customized outer Reed-Solomon codes to mitigate computational variability and enhance throughput, while leveraging the benefits of channel polarization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sequential decoding is used for PAC codes, then near-optimal FER performance is achieved, but computational complexity becomes highly sensitive to noise severity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveframe error rate performanceVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the code into inner PAC codes and outer Reed-Solomon codes in a concatenated structure. The inner PAC codes handle the majority of error correction with low complexity sequential decoding, while the outer Reed-Solomon codes provide additional protection against residual errors. This segmentation allows the system to achieve extreme low FER values without requiring the inner decoder to handle all errors alone, thus controlling computational complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If PAC codes are decoded sequentially to exploit channel polarization, then decoding accuracy is improved, but throughput is severely limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecoding accuracyVSAvoidthroughput
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The concatenated code structure segments the decoding task across multiple code layers. The inner PAC code decoding exploits channel polarization for high accuracy, while the outer Reed-Solomon code decoding handles remaining errors. This segmentation allows parallel processing of different code layers and enables pipeline implementation, thereby improving throughput without sacrificing the decoding accuracy benefits of sequential PAC code decoding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The outer Reed-Solomon code acts as an intermediary that receives the output from the inner PAC code decoder and provides additional error correction. This intermediary layer allows the inner sequential decoder to operate at its optimal pace for accuracy while the outer decoder handles residual errors, effectively mediating between the accuracy requirements of sequential decoding and the throughput requirements of the overall system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If multiple sequential decoders are used in parallel to circumvent cutoff rate barrier, then channel capacity is approached, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel capacity achievementVSAvoiddecoder structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses segmentation by dividing the error correction task across inner and outer code layers rather than using multiple parallel sequential decoders. The inner PAC code decoder handles the primary decoding task with controlled complexity, while the outer Reed-Solomon decoder provides additional protection. This layered segmentation achieves channel capacity approachability without the complexity of multiple parallel sequential decoding structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4412091A1Methods and apparatus for encoding and decoding of data using concatenated polarization adjusted convolutional codes
Publication Date: 2024.08.07 POLARAN HABERLESME TEKNOLOJILERI ANONIM SIRKETI
  • EP4412091A1 patent drawingFigure 1
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AI summary

An encoder 102 receives a concatenated encoder input block d, splits d into an outer code input array a, and encodes a using outer codes to generate an outer code output array b. The encoder generates, from b, a concatenated code output array x using a layered polarization adjusted convolutional (LPAC) code. A decoder 106 counts layers and carries out an inner decoding operation for a layered polarization adjusted convolutional (LPAC) code to generate an inner decoder decision b̃i from a concatenated decoder input array y and a cumulative decision feedback (b̂1,b̂2, ··· , b̂i-1). The decoder carries out an outer decoding operation to generate from b̃i an outer decoder decision âi, and carries out a reencoding operation to generate a decision feedback b̂i from âi, where the number of layers is an integer greater than one, with a concatenated decoder output block d̂ being generated from outer decoder decisions.