A method of decoding a turbo product code (TPC) code word comprises performing a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) on each of a plurality of code blocks of the TPC code word. The bits of code blocks of the TPC code word which pass the CRC are assigned an artificially high probability confidence measure, such as an artificially high log-likelihood ratio. Assigning these bits an artificially high probability confidence measure allows an iterative process, between a soft decision algorithm and a TPC decoder, to be less complex and to converge on a correct decoding solution more quickly. Apparatus for implementing the method are also provided.
The communication method includes the use of CRC codes for additional error correction in addition to the error detection capability. The method is for error detection and correction in a received message that includes N message bits and M Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) bits appended thereto. It is determined whether at least one bit error has occurred in the N message bits and M CRC bits of the received message based upon the M CRC bits, and when at least one bit error is determined, then K bits with a lowest quality metric are selected from the N message bits and M CRC bits. The bit error is corrected based upon possible bit error patterns and the selected K bits. Multiple bit errors may also be corrected.
