Viterbi decoder utilizing partial backtracing

摘要

A Viterbi decoder is configured for outputting a prescribed plural number of decoded bit pairs upon execution of each backtracing operation based on accessing a second prescribed number of state history table entries from a surviving state history table. The outputting of more bits per backtrace operation lowers the number of memory accesses, and enables the Viterbi decoder to maintain a high throughput of data flow while maintaining an acceptable bit error rate.