Staircase Code Soft Decoding Using Iterative Block Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing staircase code lacks an encoding method applicable to both hard coding and soft coding, leading to weakened error correction capability and minimum distance characteristics, which results in the error floor phenomenon during soft decoding.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for decoding staircase codes that perform soft information updating and decoding on initial and newly-added encoding blocks, utilizing iterative processes to maintain and update information blocks, thereby efficiently utilizing codeword correlation to improve decoding performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If block codes are used in staircase code with correlation between codewords, then the code structure is simplified, but the error correction capability and minimum distance characteristic are weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the decoding process adaptive and iterative. The decoder dynamically adjusts its operation through multiple decoding passes, using soft information from previous iterations to improve subsequent decoding attempts. This dynamic approach allows the system to achieve better error correction performance without changing the underlying code structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuity of useful action through iterative decoding processes. Instead of a single decoding attempt, the system continuously refines its decoding results by repeatedly processing the data, using soft information from each iteration to improve the next. This continuous action enables the system to overcome the limitations of the simplified code structure.
2Ease of manufacture
If hard decoding method is used for staircase code, then the implementation is simpler, but the decoding performance is insufficient and error floor phenomenon occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from hard decoding to soft decoding. This involves changing the parameter representation from discrete hard decisions to continuous soft information (log-likelihood ratios). The soft information contains more detailed probability information, enabling better decoding performance and avoiding the error floor phenomenon while maintaining reasonable implementation complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If soft decoding is performed without utilizing codeword correlation characteristics, then the decoding flexibility is improved, but the error correction capability is reduced due to weakened minimum distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using the output of each decoding iteration as input for the next iteration. The soft information from previous decoding attempts is fed back into the decoding process, allowing the system to progressively improve its results. This feedback mechanism enables the decoder to effectively utilize the correlation between codewords while maintaining the flexibility of soft decoding.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention discloses a method for decoding a staircase code. The method includes following steps: soft information updating is performed on S initial encoding blocks in a staircase code to obtain a first information block, and last S-T encoding blocks in the first information block and T newly-added encoding blocks are updated to obtain a second information block (S402); decoding is performed on first T encoding blocks in the first information block and first S-T encoding blocks in the second information block to obtain a third information block (S404); and following operations are repeatedly performed: S-T information blocks are selected from the second information block or the third information block, the soft information updating is performed on the selected S-T information blocks and the T newly-added encoding blocks to obtain S updated information blocks, and the S updated information blocks are used as a new second information block; and decoding is performed on information of (T+1)-th to 2T-th blocks in the third information block and information of first S-T blocks in the new second information block to obtain a new third information block, and information of first T blocks is outputted as the output of the decoder (S406).