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General TCM Decoder

Decode trellis-coded modulation data, mapped using arbitrary constellation

Library

TCM, in Digital Baseband sublibrary of Modulation

  • General TCM Decoder block

Description

The General TCM Decoder block uses the Viterbi algorithm to decode a trellis-coded modulation (TCM) signal that was previously modulated using an arbitrary signal constellation.

The Trellis structure and Signal constellation parameters in this block should match those in the General TCM Encoder block, to ensure proper decoding. In particular, the Signal constellation parameter must be in set-partitioned order.

Input and Output Signals

This block accepts a column vector input signal containing complex numbers. The input signal must be double or single. The reset port signal must be double or Boolean. For information about the data types each block port supports, see Supported Data Types.

If the convolutional encoder described by the trellis structure represents a rate k/n code, then the General TCM Decoder block's output is a binary column vector whose length is k times the vector length of the input signal.

Operation Modes

The block has three possible methods for transitioning between successive frames. The Operation mode parameter controls which method the block uses. This parameter also affects the range of possible values for the Traceback depth parameter, D.

  • In Continuous mode, the block initializes all state metrics to zero at the beginning of the simulation, waits until it accumulates D symbols, and then uses a sequence of D symbols to compute each of the traceback paths. D can be any positive integer. At the end of each frame, the block saves its internal state metric for use with the next frame.

    If you select Enable the reset input port, the block displays another input port, labeled Rst. This port receives an integer scalar signal. Whenever the value at the Rst port is nonzero, the block resets all state metrics to zero and sets the traceback memory to zero.

  • In Truncated mode, the block treats each frame independently. The traceback path starts at the state with the lowest metric. D must be less than or equal to the vector length of the input.

  • In Terminated mode, the block treats each frame independently. The traceback path always starts at the all-zeros state. D must be less than or equal to the vector length of the input. If you know that each frame of data typically ends at the all-zeros state, then this mode is an appropriate choice.

Decoding Delay

If you set Operation mode to Continuous, then this block introduces a decoding delay equal to Traceback depth*k bits for a rate k/n convolutional code. The decoding delay is the number of zeros that precede the first decoded bit in the output.

The block incurs no delay for other values of Operation mode.

Parameters

Trellis structure

MATLAB structure that contains the trellis description of the convolutional encoder.

Signal constellation

A complex vector that lists the points in the signal constellation in set-partitioned order.

Traceback depth

The number of trellis branches (equivalently, the number of symbols) the block uses in the Viterbi algorithm to construct each traceback path.

Operation mode

The operation mode of the Viterbi decoder. The choices are Continuous, Truncated, and Terminated.

Enable the reset input port

When you select this check box, the block has a second input port labeled Rst. Providing a nonzero value to this port causes the block to set its internal memory to the initial state before processing the input data. This field appears only if you set Operation mode to Continuous.

Output data type

Select the data type for the block output signal as boolean or single. By default, the block sets this to double.

Supported Data Types

PortSupported Data Types

Input

  • Double-precision floating point

  • Single-precision floating point

Reset

  • Double-precision floating point

  • Boolean

Output

  • Double-precision floating point

  • Boolean

References

[1] Biglieri, E., D. Divsalar, P. J. McLane, and M. K. Simon, Introduction to Trellis-Coded Modulation with Applications, New York, Macmillan, 1991.

[2] Proakis, John G., Digital Communications, Fourth edition, New York, McGraw-Hill, 2001.

Extended Capabilities

C/C++ Code Generation
Generate C and C++ code using Simulink® Coder™.

Version History

Introduced before R2006a

See Also

Blocks

Functions