On Design of Doubly-Generalized LDPC Codes Based on Multi-Type Information Functions

Ensemble design of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes and their generalizations is usually performed via numerical optimization techniques, such as differential evolution, in which a threshold analysis tool is always necessary. Threshold analysis of unstructured doubly-generalized LDPC (D-GLDPC) code ensembles over the binary erasure channel (BEC) can be performed via extrinsic information transfer (EXIT) chart, exploiting the information functions and split information functions of the check and variable component codes, respectively. In this paper, multi-type information functions of linear block codes are introduced as an extension of the concept of information functions, when the bit positions are assumed to be associated with different types. It is shown how multi-type information functions (together with their split counterparts) can be exploited within an EXIT analysis approach to perform threshold analysis over the BEC of multi-edge type D-GLDPC code ensembles. The proposed technique for threshold analysis captures D-GLDPC codes based on protographs as a special case.