Abstract: A hybrid type of decision feedback equalizer (DFE) structure that approaches optimal DFE performance is described. The hybrid DFE includes both an intersymbol interference DFE (ISI-DFE) and a noise predictive DFE (NP-DFE). The hybrid DFE structure is designed so that one form of tap values dominates over the other. This allows only the dominate tap values to be used by the transmitter during precoding and reduces the transmitter complexity. In particular, a hybrid DFE is designed so that the I(z) coefficient values dominate over the N(z) coefficient values, where the notation I(z) and N(z), as known in the art, represent the resulting coefficient values after adaptation of the ISI-DFE and the NP-DFE, respectively. A respective Tomlinson precoding scheme in the transmitter uses only the I(z) values. Since only the I(z) values are used in the precoder of the transmitter, the NP-DFE of the receiver is kept active during the communications phase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to correlation apparatus in which samples of a received signal are demultiplexed and coupled to a plurality of correlators in cyclic fashion so that successive samples are coupled to a different correlator in the plurality. Each correlator provides an output which is coupled to multiplexing apparatus. This apparatus is especially useful for determining signal dispersion characteristics and avoids the "null taps" associated with conventional correlation apparatus.

Abstract: A signal dispersion cancellation structure receives incoming signal samples at an incoming rate, stores these samples in a first memory and then writes these samples at a submultiple of the incoming rate into a plurality of second memories. Each second memory is associated with a finite impulse response (FIR) filter and the second memory samples are coupled to the associated FIR filter at the incoming rate. Advantageously, apparatus is also provided which enables any sample in a second memory to be provided to the associated FIR filter and outputted therefrom at a time related to the position of any signal dispersion.

Abstract: The present invention covers the notion of determining signal dispersion characteristics, such as amplitude, phase and delay, by transmitting a training sequence. This training sequence includes a plurality of predetermined symbols and has a time duration at least equal to the expected range of the signal dispersion delay characteristic. At a receiver, the received training sequence is processed using correlation and signal replication and the aforesaid signal dispersion characteristics are determined therefrom.

Abstract: Unequal error protection is provided for an HDTV signal by separately coding each one of the classes of information in the HDTV signal by using a conventional coded modulation scheme and then time-division-multiplexing the various coded outputs for transmission. In particular, each class of information is separately coded by a 4-dimensional 8-state trellis code and a uniformly-spaced (QAM) signal constellation.

Abstract: A technique for generating the tap-weight coefficients for a signal dispersion cancelling filter utilizes circuitry which is responsive to received signal samples and generates a time-ordered sequence of derived signal samples. The tap-weight coefficient circuitry includes filters which operate in response to this sequence. One such filter is responsive to the derived signal samples in a first portion of the sequence after the time-order of the derived signal samples therein is reversed and another filter is responsive to the derived signal samples in a second predetermined portion of the sequence. This technique is applicable to a variety of communications systems including television and is particularly suitable for integrated circuit implementation.

Abstract: The combined benefits of decision feedback equalization and error correction coding are realized in a communications system by the use of a plurality of coders and decoders respectively disposed in the transmitter and receiver. The plurality of encoders and decoders is used to interleave the data symbols so that each coder and decoder is operative upon every Mth symbol, where M is the number of coders or decoders. By a judicious choice of M, both the probability of noise impairing the recovery of successive symbols and the error propagation effects inherent in decision feedback equalizers are reduced.

Abstract: The present invention covers the notion of determining signal dispersion characteristics, such as amplitude, phase and delay, by transmitting training sequences. More specifically, each sequence comprises a plurality of predetermined symbols and is transmitted two or more times. Detection of each training sequence is provided by a correlator at the receiver. This detection creates a signal peak for each training sequence at the output of the correlator. Between the peaks, a "quiet zone" is created which permits signal dispersion in this zone to be characterizerd with respect to amplitude, phase and delay. Two different quiet zones are utilized to resolve ambiguities which arise in determining the aforesaid signal dispersion characteristics.