State-Complexity Reduction for Convolutional Codes Using Trellis-Module Integration

Abstract

Assume that G(D) is a k0×n0 canonical generator matrix. Let G(L)(D) be the generator matrix obtained by integrating L consecutive trellis-modules associated with G(D). We also consider a modified version of G(L)(D) using a column permutation. Then take notice of the corresponding minimal trellis-module T(L). In this paper, we show that there is a case where the minimum number of states over all levels in T(L) is less than the minimum attained for the minimal trellis-module associated with G(D). In this case, combining with a shifted sectionalization of the trellis, we can construct a trellis-module with further reduced number of states. We actually present such an example. We also clarify the mechanism of state-space reduction. That is, we show that trellis-module integration combined with an appropriate column permutation and a shifted sectionalization of the trellis is equivalent to shifting some particular bits of the original code bits by L time units.