Digital audio broadcasting method and apparatus using complementary pattern-mapped convolutional codes

1. A method of transmitting digital information comprising the steps of:

forward error correction encoding a plurality of bits of digital information using complementary pattern-mapped convolutional codes;

modulating a plurality of carrier signals with the forward error corrected bits; and

transmitting the carrier signals.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the code partitions comprise an upper main partition, a lower main partition, an upper backup partition, and a lower backup partition, wherein the upper main partition and the lower main partition do not overlap, the upper backup partition and the lower backup partitions do not overlap, the upper backup partition overlaps first portions of both the upper main partition and the lower main partition, and the lower backup partition overlaps second portions of both the upper main partition and the lower main partition.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of forward error correction encoding the bits comprises the steps of:

deleting predetermined bits in the plurality of bits to produce a modified plurality of bits;

allocating the modified plurality of bits among a plurality of partitions;

mapping in-phase and quadrature components of the modified plurality of bits to a QAM constellation;

independently amplitude shift keying in-phase and quadrature components of the QAM constellation using Gray code mapped constellation points corresponding to a plurality of amplitude levels;

assessing the relative value of code bits to be mapped to the constellation points; and

assigning more valuable bits to most significant bits in the constellation points.

4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the code partitions comprise an upper main partition, a lower main partition, an upper backup partition, and a lower backup partition, wherein the upper main partition and the lower main partition do not overlap, the upper backup partition and the lower backup partitions do not overlap, the upper backup partition overlaps first portions of both the upper main partition and the lower main partition, and the lower backup partition overlaps second portions of both the upper main partition and the lower main partition.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of forward error correction encoding the bits comprises the steps of:

defining a plurality of code partitions;

finding noncatastrophic partition codes; and

the noncatastrophic codes to a QAM constellation.

6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the partition codes comprise punctured codes.

7. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the step of modulating a plurality of carrier signals with the forward error corrected bits comprises the step of:

independently amplitude shift keying in-phase and quadrature components of the QAM constellation.

8. A method according to claim 7 , wherein the step of amplitude shift keying in-phase and quadrature components of the QAM constellation uses Gray code mapped constellation points corresponding to a plurality of amplitude levels.

9. A method according to claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:

assessing the relative value of code bits to be mapped to the constellation points; and

assigning more valuable bits to most significant bits in the constellation points.

10. A transmitter comprising:

means for forward error correction encoding a plurality of bits of digital information using complementary pattern-mapped convolutional codes;

means for modulating a plurality of carrier signals with the forward error corrected bits; and

means for transmitting the carrier signals.

11. A transmitter according to claim 10 , wherein the complementary pattern-mapped convolutional codes comprise:

a plurality of noncatastrophic partition codes mapped to a QAM constellation.

12. A transmitter according to claim 10 , wherein the means for forward error correction encoding the bits comprises:

means for deleting predetermined bits in the plurality of bits to produce a modified plurality of bits;

means for allocating the modified plurality of bits among a plurality of partitions; and

means for mapping in-phase and quadrature components of the modified plurality of bits to a QAM constellation.

13. A transmitter according to claim 10 , wherein the means for modulating a plurality of carrier signals with the forward error corrected bits comprises:

means for independently amplitude shift keying in-phase and quadrature components of the QAM constellation.

14. A transmitter according to claim 13 , wherein the means for independently amplitude shift keying in-phase and quadrature components of the QAM constellation uses Gray code mapped constellation points corresponding to a plurality of amplitude levels.

15. A method of receiving an information signal comprising the steps of:

receiving a plurality of carrier signals modulated by a plurality of complementary pattern-mapped convolutional coded bits;

demodulating the carrier signals to recover the complementary pattern-mapped convolutional coded bits; and

producing an output signal based on the complementary pattern-mapped convolutional coded bits.

16. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the step of demodulating the carrier signals comprises the steps of:

passing the complementary pattern-mapped convolutional coded bits through a nonlinear limiter.

17. A receiver for receiving an information signal comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of carrier signals modulated by a plurality of complementary pattern-mapped convolutional coded bits;

means for demodulating the carrier signals to recover the complementary pattern-mapped convolutional coded bits; and

means for producing an output signal based on the complementary pattern-mapped convolutional coded bits.

18. A receiver according to claim 17 , wherein the means for demodulating the carrier signals comprises:

means for passing the complementary pattern-mapped convolutional coded bits through a nonlinear limiter.

19. A transmitter comprising:

an encoder for forward error correction encoding a plurality of bits of digital information using complementary pattern-mapped convolutional codes;

a modulator for modulating a plurality of carrier signals with the forward error corrected bits; and

an antenna for transmitting the carrier signals.

20. A transmitter according to claim 19 , wherein the complementary pattern-mapped convolutional codes comprise:

a plurality of noncatastrophic partition codes mapped to a QAM constellation.

21. A transmitter according to claim 19 , wherein the encoder comprises:

a processor for deleting predetermined bits in the plurality of bits to produce a modified plurality of bits, for allocating the modified plurality of bits among a plurality of partitions, and for mapping in-phase and quadrature components of the modified plurality of bits to a QAM constellation.

22. A transmitter according to claim 19 , wherein the modulator comprises:

a processor for independently amplitude shift keying in-phase and quadrature components of the QAM constellation.

23. A transmitter according to claim 22 , wherein the processor for independently amplitude shift keying in-phase and quadrature components of the QAM constellation uses Gray code mapped constellation points corresponding to a plurality of amplitude levels.

24. A receiver for receiving an information signal comprising:

an antenna for receiving a plurality of carrier signals modulated by a plurality of complementary pattern-mapped convolutional coded bits;

a demodulator for demodulating the carrier signals to recover the complementary pattern-mapped convolutional coded bits; and

an output for producing an output signal based on the complementary pattern-mapped convolutional coded bits.

25. A receiver according to claim 24 , wherein the demodulator comprises:

a nonlinear limiter.