Viterbi Decoder 9.1 - 2022.1 English

Data encoded with a convolution encoder can be decoded using the Xilinx Viterbi decoder block. This block adheres to the AXI4-Stream standard.

There are two steps to the decode process. The first weighs the cost of incoming data against all possible data input combinations; either a Hamming or Euclidean metric can be used to determine the cost. The second step traces back through the trellis and determines the optimal path. The length of the trace through the trellis can be controlled by the traceback length parameter.

The decoder achieves minimal error rates when using optimal convolution codes; the table below shows various optimal codes. For correct operation, convolution codes used for encoding must match with that for decoding.

Block Interface

The Xilinx Viterbi Decoder 9.1 block is AXI4 compliant. The following describes the standard AXI channels and pins on the interface.

S_AXIS_DATA Channel

s_axis_data_tvalid

TVALID for S_AXIS_DATA channel. Input pin, always available. This port indicates the values presents on the input data ports are valid.

s_axis_data_tready

TREADY for S_AXIS_DATA. Output pin, always available. This port indicates that the core is ready to accept data.

s_axis_data_tdata

Input TDATA. Different input data ports are available depending on the Viterbi Type selected on Page1 tab of the Block Parameters dialog box.

When Trellis Mode is selected, 5 input data pins become available – these are s_axis_data_tdata_tcm00, s_axis_data_tdata_tcm01, s_axis_data_tdata_tcm10, s_axis_data_tdata_tcm11 and s_axis_data_tdata_sector.

The width of the Trellis mode inputs (s_axis_data_tdata_tcm**) can range from 4 to 6 corresponding to a data width (Soft_Width value on Page2 tab) of 3 to 5. s_axis_data_tdata_sector is always 4-bit wide. The decoder always functions as a rate 1/2 decoder when Trellis mode is selected.

For any other Viterbi Type (Standard/Multi-Channel/Dual Decoder), the Decoder supports rates from 1/2 to 1/7. Therefore, the block can have 2 to 7 input data ports labeled s_axis_data_tdata_data_in0 …- s_axis_data_tdata_data_in6. Hard Coding requires each tdata_data_in<n> port to be 1 bit wide. Soft Coding allows these widths to be between 3 to 5 bits (inclusive).

s_axis_data_tuser

TUSER for S_AXIS_DATA. These ports are only present if External Puncturing is selected or it is a Dual Decoder or Block Valid signal is used with the core.

s_axis_data_tuser_erase

Port becomes available, when External Puncturing is selected (on Page2 tab). This input bus is used to indicate the presence of a null-symbol on the corresponding data_in buses. For e.g. tuser_erase(0) corresponds to data_in0, tuser_erase(1) corresponds to data_in1 etc. If an erase bit is high, the data on the corresponding data_in bus is treated as a null-symbol internally to the decoder. The width of the erase bus is equal to the output rate of the decoder with a maximum value of 7.

s_axis_data_tuser_sel

Port becomes available when Dual Decoder is selected. This is used to select the correct set of convolution codes for the decoding of the input data symbols in the dual decoder case. When SEL is low, the input data is decoded using the first set of convolution codes. When it is high, the second set of convolution codes is applied.

s_axis_data_tuser_block_in

Port becomes available when Block Valid option is selected on Page 5 tab.

M_AXIS_DATA Channel

m_axis_data_tvalid

TVALID for M_AXIS_DATA channel. Output pin, always available. It indicates whether the output data is valid or not.

m_axis_data_tready

TREADY for M_AXIS_DATA channel. Do not enable or tie high if downstream slave is always able to accept data. It becomes available when TREADY option is selected on Page 5 tab.

m_axis_data_tdata

Decoded TDATA for output data channel.

m_axis_data_tdata_data

Port represents the decoded output data and it is always 1 bit wide.

m_axis_data_tdata_sector

Port becomes available for Trellis Mode decoder. This port is always 4-bit wide. The output SECTOR is a delayed version of the input SECTOR bus. Both buses have a fixed width of 4 bits. The delay equals the delay through the Trellis Mode decoder.

m_axis_data_tuser

TUSER for M_AXIS_DATA channel. These ports are only present if the block is a Dual Decoder or it has normalization signal present or it has Block Valid option checked.

m_axis_data_tuser_sel

Port becomes available when the block is configured as a Dual Decoder. This signal is a delayed version of the input s_axis_data_tuser_sel signal. The delay equals to the delay through the Dual Decoder.

m_axis_data_tuser_norm

Port becomes available when NORM option is checked on Page 5 tab. This port indicates when normalization has occurred within the core. It gives an immediate indication of the rate of errors in the channel.

m_axis_data_tuser_block_out

Port becomes available when Block Valid option is checked on Page 5 tab. This signal is a delayed version of the input s_axis_data_tuser_block_in signal. The BLOCK_OUT signal shows the decoded data corresponding to the original BLOCK_IN set of data points. The delay equals the delay through the decoder.

S_AXIS_DSTAT Channel

Note: These ports become available when Use BER Symbol Count is selected on Page 5 tab.

s_axis_dstat_tvalid

TVALID for S_AXIS_DSTAT channel.

s_axis_dstat_tready

TREADY for S_AXIS_DSTAT channel. Indicates that the core is ready to accept data. Always high, except after a reset if there is not a TREADY on the output.

s_axis_dstat_tdata_ber_range

TDATA for S_AXIS_DSTAT channel. This is the number of symbols over which errors are counted in the BER block.

M_AXIS_DSTAT Channel

Note: These ports become available when Use BER Symbol Count is selected on Page 5 tab.

m_axis_dstat_tvalid

TVALID for M_AXIS_DSTAT channel.

m_axis_dstat_tready

TREADY for M_AXIS_DSTAT channel. Do not enable or tie high if downstream slave is always able to accept data. It becomes available when TREADY option is selected on Page 5 tab.

m_axis_dstat_tdata_ber

TDATA for M_AXIS_DSTAT channel. The Bit Error Rate (BER) bus output (fixed width 16) gives a measurement of the channel bit error rate by counting the difference between the re-encoded DATA_OUT and the delayed DATA_IN to the decoder.

Other Optional Pins

aresetn

The synchronous reset (aresetn) input can be used to re-initialize the core at any time, regardless of the state of aclken signal. aresetn needs to be asserted low for at least two clock cycles to initialize the circuit. This pin becomes available if ARESETN option is selected on the Page 5 tab. It must be of type Bool. If this pin is not selected, Model Composer ties this pin to inactive (high) on the core.

aclken

Carries the clock enable signal for the decoder. The signal driving aclken must be Bool. This pin becomes available if ACLKEN option is selected on Page 5 tab.

Block Parameters

Page1 tab

Parameters specific to the Page1 tab are as follows.

Viterbi Type

Number of Channels

Used with the Muli-Channel selection, the number of channels to be decoded can be any value between 2 and 32.

Standard

This type is the basic Viterbi Decoder.

Multi-Channel

This type allows many interlaced channels of data to be decoded using a single Viterbi Decoder.

Trellis Mode

This type is a trellis mode decoder using the TCM and SECTOR_IN inputs.

Dual Decoder

When selected, the block behaves as a dual decoder with two sets of convolutional codes. This makes the sel input port available.

Decoder Options

Use Reduced Latency

The latency of the block depends on the traceback length and the constraint length. If this reduced latency option is selected, then the latency of the block is approximately halved and the latency is only 2 times the traceback length.

Constraint length

Equals n+1, where n is the length of the constraint register in the encoder.

Traceback length

Length of the traceback through the Viterbi trellis. Optimal length is 5 to 7 times the constraint length.

Page2 tab

Architecture

Parallel

Large but fast Viterbi Decoder.

Serial

Small but processes the input data in a serial fashion. The number of clock cycles needed to process each set of input symbols depends on the output rate and the soft width of the data.

Best State

Use Best State

Gives improved BER performance for highly punctured data.

Best State Width

Indicates how many of the least significant bits to ignore when saving the cost used to determine the best state.

Puncturing

None

Input data has not been punctured.

External (Erased Symbols)

When selected an erase port is added to the block. The presence of null-symbols (that is, symbols which have been deleted prior to transmission across the channel) is indicated using the erasure input erase.

Coding

Soft Width

The input width of soft-coded data can be anything in the range 3 to 5. Larger widths require more logic. If the block is implemented in serial mode, larger soft widths also increase the serial processing time.

Soft Coding

Uses the Euclidean metric to cost the incoming data against the branches of the Viterbi trellis.

Hard Coding

Uses the Hamming difference between the input data bits and the branches of the Viterbi trellis. Hard coding is only available for the standard parallel block.

Data Format

Signed Magnitude

Offset Binary (available for soft coding only)

See Table 1 in the associated LogiCORE™ Product Specification for the Signed Magnitude and Offset-Binary data format for Soft Width 3.

Page3 tab

Convolution 0

Output Rate 0

Output Rate 0 can be any value from 2 to 7.

Convolution Code 0 Radix

The convolutional codes can be input and viewed in binary, octal, or decimal.

Convolution Code Array (0-6)

First array of convolution codes. Output rate is derived from the array length. Between 2 and 7 (inclusive) codes can be entered. When dual decoding is used, a value of 0 (low) on the sel port corresponds to this array.

Page4 tab

The options on this tab are activated when you select Dual Decoder as the Viterbi Type on the Page1 tab.

Convolution 1

Output Rate 1

Output Rate 1 can be any value from 2 to 7. This is the second output rate used if the decoder is dual. The incoming data is decoded at this rate when the SEL input is high. Output Rate 1 is not used for the non-dual decoder.

Convolution Code 1 Radix

The convolutional codes can be input and viewed in binary, octal, or decimal.

Page5 tab

BER Options

Use BER Symbol Count

This bit-error-rate (BER) option monitors the error rate on the transmission channel.

Optional Pins

NORM

Indicates when normalization has taken place internal to the Add Compare Select module.

Block Valid

Check this box if BLOCK_IN and BLOCK_OUT signals are required. These signals track the movement of a block of data through the decoder. BLOCK_OUT corresponds to BLOCK_IN delayed by the decoder latency.

TREADY

Selecting this option makes m_axis_data_tready and m_axis_dstat_tready pins available on the block.

ACLKEN

Carries the clock enable signal for the block The signal driving aclken must be Bool.

ARESETN

Adds a aresetn pin to the block. This signal resets the block and must be of type Bool. aresetn must be asserted low for at least 2 clock periods and at least 1 sample period before the decoder can start decoding code symbols.

Common Parameters used by this block, such as Display shortened port names, are explained in the topic Common Options in Block Parameter Dialog Boxes.

LogiCORE™ Documentation

Viterbi Decoder LogiCORE IP Product Guide (PG027)