Rate Communication Networks
Stephen B. Wicker · 1989
This paper demonstrates a new method for modifying majority-logic convolutional decoders for use in a type-I hybrid-ARQ protocol. In standard FEC operation these decoders generate reliability information in the form of orthogonal sets of parity check sums. The modified decoder uses this information to identify received packets whose decoded data may be unreliable and to request retransmission of these packets. It is shown through analysis and simulation that the resulting error control system provides substantially higher data reliability than its FEC counterpart at the expense of a very small reduction in data throughput. The improved reliability performance coupled with a simple high-speed implementation makes the modified majority-logic decoder an ideal choice for a wide variety of high data rate applications.