Abstract: An approach is providing for supporting broadcast transmission of low density parity check (LDPC) coded signals. A receiver includes a decoder configured to decode an LDPC signal to output a decoded signal. The decoder is further configured to operate as an encoder; as such, interference cancellation can be implemented by the encoder re-encoded the received decoded signal. The above approach has particular applicability to satellite broadcast systems.

Abstract: An approach is provided for distributing multi-media information from a satellite broadcast system. A hub receives a signal from the satellite broadcast system, wherein the signal represents video information and audio information associated with multiple broadcast channels. The hub centrally demodulates and decodes the received signal for distribution to one of a number of access point devices. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the decoded signal represents uncompressed video and audio information corresponding to one of the broadcast channels. The access point devices convert the received decoded signal for output respective displays (e.g., television sets). The hub can also be equipped with an interface to provide access to a public data network, such as the global Internet. Further, the hub can be supplied with a digital video recording capability.

Abstract: An approach is provided for supporting carrier synchronization in a digital broadcast and interactive system. A carrier synchronization module receives one or more signals representing a frame that includes one or more overhead fields (e.g., preamble and optional pilot blocks and one or multiple segments separated by pilot blocks). The module estimates carrier frequency and phase on a segment by segment basis and tracks frequency between segments. Carrier phase of the signal is estimated based upon the overhead field. Estimates carrier phase of random data field are determined based upon the estimated phase values from the overhead fields, and upon both the past and future data signals. Further, the frequency of the signal is estimated based upon the overhead fields and/or the random data field. The above arrangement is particularly suited to a digital satellite broadcast and interactive system.

Abstract: An approach is provided for supporting frame synchronization in a digital broadcast and interactive system. A transmitter includes an encoder that outputs a Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) codeword. The transmitter also includes a framing module generates a LDPC coded frame in response to the LDPC codeword, and appends a physical layer signaling field to the LDPC codeword for specifying modulation and coding information associated with the LDPC coded frame. The physical layer signaling field is encoded with a Forward Error Correction (FEC) code and has an embedded framing structure to assist with frame synchronization. The above arrangement is particularly suited to a digital satellite broadcast system.

Abstract: An approach for reliably communicating over a satellite in support of a communication service including, for example, as direct broadcast satellite and data service, is disclosed. An input message is encoded, yielding a structured Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) coded message. The coded message is modulated according to a high order modulation scheme that has a signal constellation representing more than two symbols per signaling point—e.g., 8-PSK (Phase Shift Keying) and 16-QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation). The system includes a transmitter configured to propagate the modulated signal over the satellite. The above approach is particularly applicable to bandwidth constrained communication systems requiring high data rates.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively and efficiently retransmitting data frames, which were inadequately received by a receiver, back to the receiver for combination with the inadequately received data frames to increase gain at the receiver. The system and method preferably uses an R-Rake retransmission technique while eliminating the need to transmit a signaling message to a receiver for identifying the data frames to be combined as in the conventional R-Rake technique, and employs a data transmitter and a controller. The data transmitter transmits data in data frame format to be received by a receiver. Upon receiving a retransmission request from the receiver, the controller controls the data transmitter to retransmit a particular data frame to the receiver without transmitting a signaling message. The receiver receives the retransmitted data frame and compares it to other data frames stored in a buffer to determine the likelihood of a match between the transmitted data frame and a buffered data frame.

Abstract: An approach is provided for compensating for non-linearity in an overlaid radio communication system, such as a satellite network, wherein a terminal and a hub station communicates bi-directionally using a composite signal that is transmitted from a relay station and includes an inbound signal overlaid with an outbound signal. A look-up table stores information used to determine an inverse of a function associated with a non-linear effect of a received composite signal. The inbound signal has a predetermined spectral configuration. The device also includes a multiplier configured to generate a product of the look-up table and the received composite signal. Also, the device includes an estimation module configured to output an estimate of the inbound signal based upon the product.

Abstract: An approach is provided for decoding a low density parity check (LDPC) coded signal. Edge values associated with a structured parity check matrix used to generate the LDPC coded signal are retrieved from memory. The edge values specify the relationship of bit nodes and check nodes, and are stored within memory according to a predetermined scheme that permits concurrent retrieval of a set of the edge values. A decoded signal corresponding to the LDPC coded signal is output based on the retrieved edge values.

Abstract: A system and method for retransmitting data frames, which were inadequately received by a receiver, back to the receiver to increase receiver gain. Upon receiving a retransmission request from the receiver, the data transmitter retransmits a particular data frame to the receiver without transmitting a signaling message, and the receiver compares it to other data frames stored in a buffer. When a match is believed to exist, the receiver combines the retransmitted data frame with the matching data frame. Based on the result of a cyclic redundant code (CRC) check performed on the combined data frame, the receiver either provides the combined data frame to a higher layer in the receiver, or stores either the combined data frame, or the retransmitted and potentially matching data frame, in the buffer, depending on a confidence in the potential match, and sends another retransmission request to the transmitter to again retransmit the data frame and the above process is repeated.

Abstract: An approach is provided for bit labeling of a signal constellation. A transmitter generates encoded signals using, according to one embodiment, a structured parity check matrix of a Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) code. The transmitter includes an encoder for transforming an input message into a codeword represented by a plurality of set of bits. The transmitter includes logic for mapping non-sequentially (e.g., interleaving) one set of bits into a higher order constellation (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK), 8-PSK, 16-APSK (Amplitude Phase Shift Keying), 32-APSK, etc.), wherein a symbol of the higher order constellation corresponding to the one set of bits is output based on the mapping.

Abstract: An approach is provided for a method of encoding structure Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) codes. Memory storing information representing a structured parity check matrix of Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) codes is accessed during the encoding process. The information is organized in tabular form, wherein each row represents occurrences of one values within a first column of a group of columns of the parity check matrix. The rows correspond to groups of columns of the parity check matrix, wherein subsequent columns within each of the groups are derived according to a predetermined operation. An LDPC coded signal is output based on the stored information representing the parity check matrix.

Abstract: An approach for reliably communicating over a satellite in support of a communication service including, for example, as direct broadcast satellite and data service, is disclosed. An input message is encoded, yielding a structured Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) coded message. The coded message is modulated according to a high order modulation scheme that has a signal constellation representing more than two symbols per signaling point—e.g., 8-PSK (Phase Shift Keying) and 16-QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation). The system includes a transmitter configured to propagate the modulated signal over the satellite. The above approach is particularly applicable to bandwidth constrained communication systems requiring high data rates.

Abstract: An approach for generating a structured Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) codes is provided. Structure of the LDPC codes is provided by restricting a certain part of the parity check matrix to be lower triangular, hence enabling a very simple encoding method that does not require the generator matrix of the code. The approach can also exploit the unequal error protecting capability of LDPC codes on transmitted bits to provide extra error protection to more vulnerable bits of high order modulation constellations (such as 8-PSK (Phase Shift Keying)). Additionally, an efficient decoding scheme is described where both bit nodes and check nodes are partitioned into groups. The edge values associated with each of the group can be placed together in memory simultaneously for bit nodes groups and check nodes groups. This architecture allows the multiple edges to be fetched from memory at a single clock cycle.

Abstract: An approach is provided for transmitting messages using low density parity check (LDPC) codes. Input messages are encoded according to a structured parity check matrix that imposes restrictions on a sub-matrix of the parity check matrix to generate LDPC codes. The LDPC codes are transmitted over a radio communication system (e.g., satellite network), wherein a receiver communicating over the radio communication system is configured to iteratively decode the received LDPC codes according to a signal constellation associated with the LDPC codes. The receiver is configured to iteratively regenerating signal constellation bit metrics after one or more decoding iterations.

Abstract: An approach is provided for communicating in a radio communication system, such as a satellite network, wherein a terminal and a hub station communicates bi-directionally using a composite signal that is transmitted from a relay station and includes an inbound signal overlaid with an outbound signal. The hub station extracts the inbound signal from the composite signal by compensating for a non-linear effect (an optionally filter delay) associated with the composite signal.

Abstract: A system and method for detection of frame synchronization in turbo encoded and concatenated forward error correction (FEC) systems. The system and method provides a configurable conditional synchronizer module monitoring turbo decoder input data, with an additional first synchronization check module monitoring turbo decoder output data, and an additional second synchronization check module monitoring block code decoder output data in concatenated systems. Conditional synchronization found by the configurable conditional synchronizer is reset when either check module one or two detects a loss of sync, thus reducing the probability of false synchronization locks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding data for transmission in a communication system provides increased efficiency in bandwidth utilization through higher data rates, lower error rates, lower power levels, and/or increased capacity. A set of orthogonal codes is partitioned into subsets. The data to be transmitted is partitioned into packets of bit sequences, each of which is mapped to an orthogonal code in an assigned subset. The number of members in a particular subset is determined by the relative transmission requirements of the data signal the subset will be used to encode.

Abstract: A method and system is provided to synchronize a communication signal. Phase and timing offsets are first estimated in order to calculate a frequency offset. Specifically, a system and method for synchronizing a communication signal is provided, comprising a satellite adapted to transmit a signal. The signal includes data information and synchronization information. A receiver adapted to process the signal received from the satellite and determine offset information from the received signal is also provided. The receiver includes a phase estimator adapted to estimate a phase offset of the received signal, a timing estimator adapted to estimate a timing offset of the received signal, and/or a frequency estimator adapted to derive a frequency offset from the phase and timing offset comprising removing the modulation from the received signal. The received signal is sampled for information carrying data.

Abstract: A system and method for transmitting wideband signals via a radio communication system adapted for transmitting narrow-band signals is described. A base station is used to transmit and receive a plurality of relatively narrow-band and a plurality of relatively wideband signals. The electromagnetic spectrum available to the plurality of narrow-band signals is selectively shared with the electromagnetic spectrum available to the wideband signals by systematically separating the orthogonal codes and the carrier frequencies used for transmission. The prefixes of the orthogonal codes are preferably mutually exclusive and the carrier frequencies-are preferably separated by an offset. The offset may be substantially equal to an integer multiple of the narrow-band signal's chip rate. Alternatively, the offset may be substantially equal to an odd multiple of one half the narrow-band signal's chip rate in which case every other bit of the orthogonally encoded data is inverted.

Abstract: A communication system is used to transmit and receive a plurality of relatively narrow-band signals and wideband signals. The two signal types share a common electromagnetic spectrum by employing spreading gain and maintaining orthogonality between simultaneously transmitted wideband and narrow-band signals. Signal orthogonality is maintained by selectively choosing orthogonal codes and aligning or spacing a wideband carrier frequency with respect to the narrow-band carrier frequencies in accordance with the ratio of the wideband to the narrow-band chip frequencies. A pilot signal is preferably transmitted contemporaneously with the transmission of the first spreaded signal, and a control data signal, associated with a plurality of users on the first bandwidth, is transmitted on a common control channel using a single Walsh code that is shared by a plurality of users in a TDMA protocol.