Providing flexibility in a convolutional encoder

In future radio systems, flexible coding and decoding architectures will be required. In case of the latter, implementing architectural flexibility with regard to low power issues is a challenging task. The flexible encoding platform in this paper is a first step toward this envisioned decoder. It generates a wide class of codes, starting with convolutional codes. As an extension to this, turbo codes will be included by adding an interleaver. At this prototyping stage, the system is implemented on an FPGA. The decision to choose the observer canonical form is defended by a thorough investigation of its critical path properties. Proper configuration allows code rates of b/c, b=1 ... 15, c=2 ... 16, b\n\n\t\t