The Multiple Stack Algorithm Implemented on a Zilog Z-80 Microcomputer

A sequential algorithm for decoding convolutional codes, the multiple stack algorithm or MSA devised by Chevillat and Costello, has been implemented and tested on a Zilog Z-80 microcomputer system. The results of this implementation, when compared to those of a (2, 1)8 Viterbi algorithm implemented on the same microcomputer system, show that the MSA obtains significantly higher data throughput. The results of the MSA implementation of a (2, 1)15 code suggest that the MSA is a practical choice for codes having longer constraint lengths than are normally used with Viterbi decoding. The comparative results may serve as guidelines for future implementation of the MSA algorithm on faster, more capable microprocessors.