Abstract: To interleave or deinterleave data elements in first and second blocks transmitted alternately and each having N data elements with rank n lying between 0 and N−1, N being an integer, the data elements with ranks 0, . . . n, . . . N−1 in the first blocks are ordered in accordance with the successive ranks A(0), . . . A(n), . . . A(N−1) and the data elements with ranks 0, . . . n, . . . N−1 in the second block are ordered in accordance with the successive ranks A−1(0), . . . A−1(n), . . . A−1(N−1). A and A−1 are different functions such that A−1(A(n))=n.

Abstract: A device for the reception of digital data broadcast at a high bit rate for reception by mobile receivers is disclosed. The device operates under adverse conditions of multiple propagation corresponding to the Rayleigh process and imperfect frequency tuning to minimize the inter-symbol interference in the frequency domain. The device receives a digital signal having digital elements distributed in the frequency-time space f-t and transmitted in the form of symbols each constituted by a multiplex of N orthogonal carrier frequencies modulated by a set of digital elements and broadcast simultaneously. The device includes a module for transposition by a local oscillator, baseband filtering and analog-digital conversion, a temporal windowing module for the selection of the useful samples and a mathematical transformation module, the temporal windowing module applying a Nyquist window type of temporal window with non-zero roll-off.

Abstract: Decoding apparatus provides the maximum likelihood decoding of a sequence of samples of the type implementing a Viterbi type of decision algorithm that defines an initial decoding trellis. Sub-sampling apparatus sub-samples the initial trellis by a ratio p to preserve nodes corresponding to one sample out of p consecutive samples. This sub-sampling apparatus associates a p order antecedent node to each preserved node. Trace-back apparatus traces an optimal path back in the sub-sampled trellis by associating the p order antecedent node for each preserved node. The trace back apparatus designates at least the last two nodes of the optimal path. Over-sampling apparatus over-samples the designation of the last two nodes of the optimal path. The factor p is an integer greater than 1 selected so that there is a single path between a node and its p order antecedent in the initial trellis. Hence the bit rate is increased by a factor p, without loss of information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the coherent demodulation of a digital signal constituted by digital elements distributed in the time-frequency space and transmitted in the form of symbols constituted by a multiplex of N orthogonal carrier frequencies modulated by a set of said digital elements and broadcast simultaneously, the digital signal also including reference elements having a known value position in said time frequency space. The method includes a Fourier transform of at least samples of said digital signal containing said reference elements from a frequency domain into a temporal domain, a weighting of the transformed samples in the temporal domain by a rectangular temporal window f.sub.n, a thresholding of the transformed samples in the temporal domain to eliminate any samples below a predetermined threshold, and a reverse Fourier transform of the samples remaining after said weighting and thresholding from the temporal domain into the frequency domain for projection onto said digital signal.

Abstract: A method for the broadcasting of digital data, in channels to which multiple paths are assigned, the characteristics of which vary in time, with time-frequency interlacing and assistance in the acquisition of the automatic frequency control. This method is one of the type providing for the distribution of the data in the form of digital elements in the frequency-time space f-t and the transmission of frames of symbols each constituted by a multiplex of N orthogonal carrier frequencies modulated by a set of the digital elements and broadcast simultaneously, the method providing for the transmission of a pattern of frequency synchronization, recurrent in time. It can be applied notably for radio broadcasting at a high bit rate towards mobile receivers, and for example, to COFDM radio broadcasting.