High-speed parallel Viterbi decoding: algorithm and VLSI-architecture

Abstract

The Viterbi algorithm (VA) is considered as an example of a fairly complex algorithm that needs to be implemented for high-speed applications. A brief introduction to the algorithm is given, and the state of the art of high-speed Viterbi decoders is reviewed. The three principal levels of introducing additional parallelism into an algorithm-bit level, word level, and algorithm level-are outlined, and a solution for the VA at the bit level is indicated.< >