Receiver for a trellis coded digital television signal

Claim 2

A data receiver comprising: means for developing a received data signal comprising a plurality of regularly spaced one-dimensional symbols of a phase variant symbol constellation, each of said symbols representing 3-bits Z 0 , Z 1 , Z 2 produced by coding a first data bit X 1 using a multi-state convolution coder to derive bits Z 0 , Z 1 and a second data bit X 2 using a modulo - 2 precoder to derive bit Z 2 , wherein bits Z 0 , Z 1 identify respective subsets (a-d) of said symbols, each of said subsets (a-d) comprising two equally spaced symbol values, and bits Z 1 , Z 2 identify respective pairs of said symbols each comprising two adjacent symbol values; decoder means for estimating data bit X 1 and a bit Y 1 from the received data signal; and a postcoder for generating an estimation of data bit X 2 in response to estimated bit Y 2 .

Claim 3

The receiver of claim 1 wherein said decoder means comprises a Viterbi decoder for estimating data bit X 1 and bit Y 2 from said received data signal in response to a determination of the most likely sequence of transitions between the states of said convolution coder and wherein said postcoder comprises a modulo-2 postcoder for converting said estimated bit Y 2 into an estimation of data bit X 2 .

Claim 4

The receiver of claim 1 wherein said decoder means comprises a four-level slicer for estimating data bit X 2 and bit Y 2 from said received data signal and wherein said postcoder comprises a modulo-2 postcoder for converting said estimated bit Y 2 into an estimation of data bit X 2 .

Claim 5

The data receiver of claim 1 wherein said received data signal includes a plurality of regularly spaced synchronization intervals and including means for preventing said postcoder from changing state during said synchronization intervals.

Claim 6

A data receiver comprising: means for developing a received data signal comprising M groups of independently coded interleaved one dimensional symbols of a phase variant symbol constellation, each of said groups including a plurality of regularly spaced symbols each representing 3 bits Z 0 , Z 1 , Z 2 produced by coding a first data bit X 1 with a coder comprising a multi-state convolutional encoder to derive bits Z 0 , Z 1 and a second data bit X 2 with a coder comprising a modulo-2 precoder to derive bit Z 2 , wherein bits Z 0 , Z 1 identify respective subsets (a-d) of said symbols, each of said subsets (a-d) comprising two equally spaced symbol values, and bits Z 1 , Z 2 identify respective pairs of said symbols each comprising two adjacent symbol values; means for reducing channel interference characterizing said received data signal; and a decoder operable for estimating data bits X 1 , X 2 in response to each symbol of each of said groups of symbols of said received interference reduced data signal.

Claim 7

A data receiver comprising: means for developing a received data signal comprising M groups of independently coded interleaved one dimensional symbols of a phase variant symbol constellation, each of said groups including a plurality of regularly spaced symbols each representing 3 bits Z 0 , Z 1 , Z 2 produced by coding a first data bit X 1 with a coder comprising a multi-state convolutional encoder to derive bits Z 0 , Z 1 and a second data bit X 2 with a coder comprising a modulo-2 precoder to derive bit Z 2 , wherein bits Z 0 , Z 1 identify respective subsets (a-d) of said symbols, each of said subsets (a-d) comprising two equally spaced symbol values, and bits Z 1 , Z 2 identify respective pairs of said symbols each comprising two adjacent symbol values; means for reducing channel interference characterizing said received data signal; and a decoder operable for estimating data bits X 1 , X 2 in response to each symbol of each of said groups of symbols of said received interference reduced data signal.

Claim 8

The data receiver of claim 5 wherein said decoder comprises a first decoder for estimating data bit X 1 and a bit Y 2 in response to each symbol of each of said groups of symbols and a second decoder for converting each of said estimated bits Y 2 into an estimation of data bit X 2 .

Claim 9

The data receiver of claim 6 wherein said first decoder comprises a Viterbi decoder and said second decoder comprises a modulo-2 postcoder.

Claim 10

The data receiver of claim 6 wherein said first decoder comprises a four-level slicer and said second decoder comprises a modulo-2 postcoder.

Claim 11

The data receiver of claim 6 wherein said received data signal includes a plurality of regularly spaced synchronization intervals and including means for preventing said second decoder from changing state during said synchronization intervals.

Claim 12

A data receiver comprising: means for developing a received data signal including a plurality of regularly spaced synchronization intervals and comprising M groups of independently coded interleaved one dimensional symbols of a phase variant symbol constellation, each of said groups including a plurality of regularly spaced symbols each representing 3 bits Z 0 , Z 1 , Z 2 produced by coding a first data bit X 1 with a coder comprising a multi-state convolutional encoder to derive bits Z 0 , Z 1 and a second data bit X 2 with a coder comprising a modulo-2 precoder to derive bit Z 2 , wherein bits Z 0 , Z 2 identify respective subsets (a-d) of said symbols, each of said subsets (a-d) comprising two equally spaced symbol values, and bits Z 1 , Z 2 identify respective pairs of said symbols each comprising two adjacent symbol values; means coupled to said means for developing for reducing channel interference characterizing said received data signal; a first decoder for estimating data bit X 1 and a bit Y 2 in response to each symbol of each of said groups of symbols, a second decoder for converting each of said estimated bits Y 2 into an estimation of data bit X 2 ; and means for preventing said second decoder from changing state during said synchronization intervals.

Claim 13

A data receiver comprising: means for developing a received data signal including a plurality of regularly spaced synchronization intervals and comprising M groups of independently coded interleaved one dimensional symbols of a phase variant symbol constellation, each of said groups including a plurality of regularly spaced symbols each representing 3 bits Z 0 , Z 1 , Z 2 produced by coding a first data bit X 1 with a coder comprising a multi-state convolutional encoder to derive bits Z 0 , Z 1 and a second data bit X 2 with a coder comprising a modulo-2 precoder to derive bit Z 2 , wherein bits Z 0 , Z 2 identify respective subsets (a-d) of said symbols, each of said subsets (a-d) comprising two equally spaced symbol values, and bits Z 1 , Z 2 identify respective pairs of said symbols each comprising two adjacent symbol values; means coupled to said means for developing for reducing channel interference characterizing said received data signal; a first decoder for estimating data bit X 1 and a bit Y 2 in response to each symbol of each of said groups of symbols, a second decoder for converting each of said estimated bits Y 2 into an estimation of data bit X 2 ; and means for preventing said second decoder from changing state during said synchronization intervals.

Claim 14

The data receiver of claim 10 wherein said first decoder comprises a Viterbi decoder and said second decoder comprises a modulo-2 postcoder.

Claim 15

The data receiver of claim 10 wherein said first decoder comprises a four-level slicer and said second decoder comprises a modulo-2 postcoder.