Polar Code List Decoding With Bit Reliability Classification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing polar code decoding algorithms, such as SC and SCL, face high calculation and sorting complexities due to sequential decision-making and extensive path analysis, leading to suboptimal decoding performance and error propagation.

Innovation Solution

A decoding method that classifies bits into reliable and unreliable categories based on prior and posterior LLRs, allowing for parallel decoding with path priority, which reduces calculation complexity by considering both posterior and prior information for path metric calculation and sorting only split paths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If SCL decoding algorithm is used to improve decoding performance, then decoding performance is improved, but calculation complexity and sorting complexity are high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecoding performanceVSAvoidcalculation complexity and sorting complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the decoding paths into multiple groups based on path metric values, and only performs sorting on the top L paths rather than all paths. This segmentation approach maintains decoding performance by focusing computational resources on the most promising paths while reducing overall sorting complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial sorting by only sorting a subset of paths (the top L paths with smallest path metrics) rather than sorting all possible paths. This partial action approach achieves sufficient decoding performance without the full computational burden of complete path sorting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Measurement precision

If path sorting is performed for all paths in SCL algorithm, then optimal path selection is improved, but sorting complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepath quality assessmentVSAvoidsorting complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides all decoding paths into multiple groups based on their path metric values, identifying the top L paths with the smallest metrics. This segmentation allows precise assessment of path quality for the most promising candidates while avoiding the computational overhead of sorting all paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs sorting operation only on a partial set of paths (the top L paths) rather than all paths. This partial sorting maintains sufficient measurement precision for path quality assessment while significantly reducing sorting complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Device complexity

If sequential decision-making is used in SC algorithm, then calculation complexity is reduced, but error propagation occurs and decoding performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalculation complexityVSAvoiddecoding performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary classification of information bits into reliable and unreliable subsets before decoding. This preliminary action allows the system to apply different decoding strategies (SC for reliable bits, SCL for unreliable bits) to different bit subsets, preventing error propagation from unreliable bits while maintaining low complexity for reliable bits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different decoding quality levels to different parts of the code based on bit reliability. Reliable bits use simple SC decoding, while unreliable bits use more complex SCL decoding with path sorting. This local quality approach optimizes overall decoding performance while managing computational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3480957B1Polar code list decoding
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3480957B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3480957B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3480957B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A decoding method and device, and a decoder are provided. The method includes: receiving N LLRs corresponding to a to-be-decoded signal, where N is a code length (S101); classifying K decoded bits into reliable bits and unreliable bits based on a prior LLR and/or a posterior LLR (S102); generating M decoding paths based on the N LLRs and a preset rule (S103); and selecting each stage of target decoding path based on PM values of the M decoding paths, to obtain a decoding result of each stage of decoded bit (S104).