| Abstract: | This paper proposes a new architecture for a Viterbi decoder with an efficient memory management scheme. The trace‐back operation is eliminated in the architecture and the memory storing intermediate decision information can be removed. The elimination of the trace‐back operation also reduces the number of operation cycles needed to determine decision bits. The memory size of the proposed scheme is reduced to 1/(5×constraint length) of that of the register exchange scheme, and the throughput is increased up to twice that of the trace‐back scheme. A Viterbi decoder complying with the IS‐95 reverse link specification is designed to verify the proposed architecture. The decoder has a code rate of 1/3, a constraint length of 9, and a trace‐forward depth of 45. |
