FAST SOFT VALUE COMPUTATION METHODS FOR GRAY-MAPPED QAM

摘要

A method and apparatus use unified equations to provide computationally efficient but exact solutions to bit soft value computations for Gray-coded QAM symbols in a received communication symbol as compared to carrying out region-specific equations that are keyed to particular regions of a nominal modulation constellation. Such unified equations further may include one or more correction terms that compensate the bit soft value computations for the effects on symbol samples of more than one "nearest" neighbor in the nominal modulation constellation. While the computations offer particular advantages for receivers making use of the HS-DSCHs used in WCDMA, the method and apparatus can be used in essentially any wireless receiver or system employing Gray-coded QAM.