A new design algorithm for integrated digital communications systems

A new design algorithm for integrated digital transmission systems operating over noisy channels has been developed. Taking all system design aspects into consideration, the algorithm provides a general methodology for designing a typical digital communication system as a whole. Based on information-theoretic principles and on practical system design restrictions, the algorithm first eliminates design options that are unacceptable. A set of system configurations, i.e., the key parameters for the source/channel coding and modulation subsystems, are then generated for acceptable overall system designs. A large variety of existing methods for source coding, error-correction coding and modulation can be used in conjunction with the proposed system design algorithm. Applications to speech and image transmission have been considered as concrete examples for communication systems designed in accordance with this algorithm. Simulations have demonstrated that the system design algorithm can efficiently reduce the number of design options to a limited set of acceptable options with corresponding key parameters specifically identified. The methodology described in this paper provides communication engineers with means to rapidly produce the best possible system design configurations