Layered Polar Code Encoding for Finite-Length Error Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Polar codes for 5G wireless communications face challenges in achieving optimal error correction performance due to limitations in code length and channel capacity, particularly in finite-length codes over non-stationary channels, where existing decoding methods like SC and SCL struggle to balance reliability and complexity.

Innovation Solution

The development of layered polar codes, which utilize a new construction method to improve code exponents and finite-length behavior by applying multiple encoding layers with specific kernel operations, enhancing error correction performance and reducing block error rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional polar codes are used with standard encoding methods, then the implementation is simpler, but the error correction performance and code exponent are suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror correction performanceVSAvoidencoding structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The encoding process is divided into multiple layers, where each layer applies a polar encoding operation with a specific kernel. The first layer uses a first kernel to encode input bits, and subsequent layers use different kernels to encode the outputs from previous layers. This segmented multi-layer approach improves error correction performance by creating more diverse code structures while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extends traditional single-layer polar coding into a multi-dimensional layered structure. By stacking multiple encoding layers with different kernels and parameters, the system transforms the one-dimensional encoding process into a multi-layered structure, enabling better error correction performance through increased structural complexity in the vertical dimension.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If code length is increased to improve channel capacity utilization, then error correction performance improves, but the complexity of encoding and decoding increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel capacity utilizationVSAvoidencoding complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a single long code, the patent segments the encoding into multiple layers with potentially shorter effective lengths at each layer. Each layer processes a portion of the information with its own kernel and parameters, achieving the benefits of longer overall code structure while keeping individual processing steps manageable in complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The multi-layer approach applies encoding operations multiple times with different kernels, going beyond a single encoding pass. This partial repetition with variation improves error correction performance by creating redundant protective structures without requiring a proportional increase in overall code length.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If multiple encoding layers with different kernels are applied, then code exponent and finite-length performance improve, but the computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefinite-length performanceVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The computational workload is segmented across multiple layers, where each layer performs a specific encoding operation with a designated kernel. This segmentation allows for optimized implementation of each layer independently, potentially using hardware accelerators or efficient algorithms for specific kernel types, thereby managing overall computational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different layers use different kernel parameters and encoding configurations optimized for their specific purposes. By varying parameters such as kernel size, encoding rate, and processing order across layers, the system achieves better finite-length performance while allowing each layer to operate within computationally efficient parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3628111B1Method and apparatus for encoding based on layered polar code
Publication Date: 2022.02.16 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3628111B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3628111B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3628111B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a layered coding approach, a code configuration parameter of a polar code is determined, and encoding graph parameters are determined based on the determined code configuration parameter. The encoding graph parameters identify inputs for one or more kernel operations in each of multiple encoding layers. Information symbols are encoded by applying the one or more kernel operations to the inputs identified in each encoding layer in accordance with the determined encoding graph parameters.