Generalization of chase algorithms for soft decision decoding of binary linear codes

Soft decision decoding of binary linear block codes transmitted over the additive white Gaussian channel (AWGN) using antipodal signaling is considered. A set of decoding algorithms called generalized Chase algorithms is proposed. In contrast to Chase algorithms, which require a binary error-correcting decoder for decoding a binary linear block code of minimum distance , the generalized Chase algorithms can use a binary decoder that can correct less than hard errors. The Chase algorithms are particular cases of the generalized Chase algorithms. The performance of all proposed algorithms is asymptotically optimum for high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Simulation results for the quadratic residue code indicate that even for low SNR the performance level of a maximum likelihood decoder can be approached by a relatively simple decoding procedure.