Low-complexity error selective Viterbi decoder

The authors present a low-complexity convolutional decoding scheme, the err or selective Viterbi decoder (ESVD), which improves the trellis code search of a conventional Viterbi decoder (VD). Use of the ESVD leads to significa nt computational savings under typical channel conditions, owing to the iso lation of erroneous data stretches and the decoding (only) of the error seq uence through a simplified VD search. The effectiveness of multi-bit ESVD s chemes is verified for different encoders and data quantisations using Mont e Carlo simulations.