Window code parameters of spatially-coupled LDPC codes

Abstract

In this paper, we define a window code to be the portion of a Spatially-coupled low-density parity check (SC-LDPC) code seen by a single iteration of a windowed decoder. We consider the design of SC-LDPC codes for windowed decoding via optimization of the window code. In particular, because iterative decoding is optimal on codes with cycle-free graph representations, we ask fundamental questions about the construction and parameters of cycle-free window codes. We show that it is possible to have an SC-LDPC code with cycles and with cycle-free window codes. We consider the relationship between the distance of the window code and the distance of the SC-LDPC code. Further, we show that SC-LDPC codes with MDS window codes exist, and all such codes are asymptotically bad. This work gives insight into the tradeoffs between window code parameters and performance of the SC-LDPC code.