| 摘要 |
Methods and apparatus are provided for storing survivor paths in a Viterbi detector. The invention maintains at least one register and at least one pointer for each state. Each register stores a bit sequence associated with a Viterbi state and each pointer points to one of the registers. One or more predefined rules based on a trellis structure are employed to exchange one or more of the pointers. A survivor path memory is also disclosed for a Viterbi detector. The survivor path memory comprises a plurality of columns, each associated with a different time step, and an input processor. Each column comprises a flip flop for storing one bit or portion of a bit sequence associated with a Viterbi state; and a multiplexer for each state controlled by a case signal indicating a time step, the multiplexer selecting a state from a previous time step, wherein an output of the multiplexer of a given state is connected to at least one data input of a flip flop of the given state. The input processor generates a control signal that exchanges one or more pointers based on a trellis structure, wherein each of the pointers points to one of the flip flops. |
