List Viterbi algorithms for continuous transmission

Abstract

The conventional list Viterbi algorithm (LVA) produces a list of the L best output sequences over a certain block length in decoding a terminated convolutional code. We show in this paper that the LVA with a sufficiently long list is an optimum maximum-likelihood decoder for the concatenated pair of a convolutional code and a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) block code with error detection. The CRC is used to select the output. New LVAs for continuous transmission are proposed and evaluated, where no termination bits are required for the convolutional code for every CRC block. We also present optimum and suboptimum LVAs for tailbiting convolutional codes. Convolutional codes with Viterbi decoding were proposed for so-called hybrid in band on channel (hybrid IBOC) systems for digital audio broadcasting compatible with the frequency modulation band. For high-quality audio signals, it is beneficial to use error concealment/error mitigation techniques to avoid the worst type of channel errors. This requires a reliable error flag mechanism (error detection feature) in the channel decoder. A CRC on a block of audio information bits provides this mechanism. We demonstrate how the LVA can significantly reduce the flag rate compared to the regular Viterbi algorithm (VA) for the same transmission parameters. At the expense of complexity, a receiver optional LVA can reduce the flag rate by more than an order of magnitude. The difference in audio quality is dramatic. The LVA is backward compatible with a VA.