Hardware implementation of space-time block codes

1. A circuit for encoding at least two input symbols by means of a space-time block code, comprising

a plurality of multiplexers, each arranged to receive said input symbols and to output a selected symbol,

storing means for storing information on which input symbol is to be selected in each multiplexer of said plurality of multiplexers and for storing gain factor information to multiply the multiplexer outputs with, and

calculation means, coupled with said storing means, for determining an encoded version of said input symbols based on said multiplexer outputs and corresponding gain factors stored in said storing means, wherein said storing means comprise first storing means for said information on which input symbol is to be selected, said first storing means being coupled with said plurality of multiplexers, and second storing means for said gain factor information.

2. The circuit for encoding as in claim 1 , further comprising a buffer for receiving said at least two input symbols.

3. The circuit for encoding as in claim 1 , further comprising a control element for controlling said storage means.

4. The circuit for encoding as in claim 1 , wherein said input symbols are complex and wherein separate buffers, multiplexers, storing means and calculation means are provided for encoding real and imaginary part.

5. A circuit for decoding received space-time block coded symbols, comprising

storing means for storing an index submatrix and gain submatrix representation of the space-time block code with which said received symbols are coded,

buffering means arranged to store channel estimation information and at least two received symbols, said buffering means further being arranged to receive information from said index submatrix in said storing means, and

calculation means, coupled with said storing means and with said buffering means, for calculating decoded symbols from data stored in said buffering means and corresponding gain factors from said gain submatrix in said storing means,

wherein said storing means comprise first storing means for storing said index submatrix, said first storing means being coupled with the buffering means, and second storing means for storing said gain submatrix, said second storing means being coupled with said first storing means.

6. The circuit for decoding as in claim 5 , wherein said calculation means comprises accumulation means arranged for accumulating intermediate calculation results.

7. The circuit for decoding as in claim 5 , wherein said received symbols are complex and wherein separate buffering means, storing means and calculation means are provided for decoding real and imaginary part.

8. Method for space-time block encoding at least two input symbols, comprising:

storing an index submatrix and a gain submatrix representing the space-time block code to be used,

applying said input symbols to a plurality of multiplexers,

selecting in each multiplexer which symbol is to be output, based on information from said index submatrix,

selecting for each multiplexer a gain factor corresponding to the symbol output by that multiplexer from said gain submatrix, and calculating the encoded output symbol by combining said gain factors and said multiplexer outputs,

the method further comprising storing said index submatrix in a first storing means and storing said gain submatrix in a second storing means, wherein said first storing means is coupled with said second storing means.

9. Method for space-time block encoding as in claim 8 , further comprising storing said input symbols in a buffer before applying them to said plurality of multiplexers.

10. Method for decoding received space-time block encoded symbols, comprising:

storing an index submatrix and a gain submatrix representing the space-time block code to be used within a buffer, storing channel estimation information within a buffer, taking a block with a number of said received symbols equal to the applied code block length, and

decoding said block of received symbols by means of said channel estimation information, said index submatrix and said gain submatrix with a decoder,

the method further comprising storing said index submatrix in a first storing means and storing said gain submatrix in a second storing means, wherein said first storing means is coupled with the buffer and with said second storing means.