Segmented Polar Code Decoding for Flexible Parallel Throughput
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing Polar code decoding methods, such as successive-cancellation decoding, have limited flexibility and high complexity, especially for long code lengths, which restricts their decoding throughput and efficiency in hardware implementations.
Innovation Solution
A method and decoder architecture that segment a Polar code into multiple shorter codes, allowing for parallel decoding of these segments, which reduces the need for sequential bit-by-bit decoding and improves flexibility by using component decoders to independently decode and combine results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If successive-cancellation decoding is used for Polar codes, then decoding complexity is reduced to O(Nlog2N), but decoding flexibility is limited due to sequential bit-by-bit processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the Polar code of length N into multiple shorter Polar codes of length N/m, where m is a segmentation factor. Each segmented code is then independently decoded using separate decoding units, enabling parallel processing. This segmentation approach maintains the O(Nlog2N) complexity benefit while introducing parallelism that improves decoding flexibility and throughput, directly resolving the contradiction between low complexity and limited flexibility.
2Device complexity
If sequential bit-by-bit decoding is performed, then decoding complexity is reduced, but decoding throughput is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The Polar code is divided into m segments that can be decoded in parallel by m independent decoding units. Each decoding unit processes one segment independently, achieving parallel throughput improvement while maintaining the efficient O(Nlog2N) complexity of successive-cancellation decoding for each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional sequential processing to multi-dimensional parallel processing by introducing multiple decoding units operating simultaneously on different code segments. This dimensional change from sequential to parallel architecture directly increases decoding throughput while preserving the low complexity of the underlying decoding algorithm.
3Device complexity
If hard decision is made after each bit decoding, then decoding process is simplified, but decoding accuracy is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the code and performing independent decoding on each segment, the patent enables multiple decoding attempts or alternative decoding strategies on different segments without increasing overall process complexity. This can improve accuracy by allowing soft decision combining or multiple hypothesis testing across segments while maintaining simplified individual segment decoding.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a Polar code decoding method and decoder. The decoding method includes: segmenting a first Polar code having a length of N into m mutually coupled second Polar codes, where a length of each second Polar code is N/m, N and m are integer powers of 2, and N > m; independently decoding the m second Polar codes to acquire decoding results of the m second Polar codes; and obtaining a decoding result of the first Polar code according to the decoding results of the m second Polar codes. In the embodiments of the present invention, a Polar code having a length of N is segmented into multiple segments of mutually coupled Polar codes; the segmented Polar codes are independently decoded; and results of the independent decoding are jointly processed to obtain a decoding result of an original Polar code; in this way, there is no need to sequentially decode N bits, and flexibility of Polar code decoding can be improved.