Forward error correction decoder input computation in multi-carrier communications system

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a receiver, a first signal, wherein the first signal comprises a modulated source signal transmitted on a first carrier over a communications channel, wherein the modulated source signal reflects a first source symbol mapped to a one of a plurality of signal constellation points, wherein each signal constellation point is associated with a different one of a plurality of signal clusters, wherein each signal cluster reflects interference and/or noise effects with respect to the associated signal constellation point;

acquiring, from the received first signal, a received representation of the modulated source signal with respect to the first source symbol; and

determining a plurality of first likelihood metrics, wherein each first likelihood metric is based on the received representation of the modulated source signal with respect to the first source symbol and a different one of a plurality of core parameters, wherein each core parameter is based on a centroid estimate with respect to a different one of the signal clusters.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining the one signal constellation point and the first source symbol based on one or more of the first likelihood metrics.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining one or more bit-level first likelihood metrics based on one or more of the first likelihood metrics; and

determining one or more code-bits associated with the one signal constellation point and the first source symbol based on one or more of the bit-level first likelihood metrics.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communications channel comprises a multi-carrier channel, and the interference and/or noise effects result at least in part from one or more other source signals simultaneously transmitted on other carriers over the multi-carrier channel.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the receiver comprises a single carrier receiver, and wherein the core parameters and the determination of the first likelihood metrics do not require information characterizing the other source signals simultaneously transmitted on other carriers over the multi-carrier channel.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein each first likelihood metric is further based on a different one of a plurality of variance parameters, wherein each variance parameter is based on a variance estimate with respect to a different one of the signal clusters.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein each variance parameter relates to a shape of the respective signal cluster.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein each first likelihood metric is further based on a different one of a plurality of correlation parameters, wherein each correlation parameter is based on a correlation estimate with respect to a different one of the signal clusters.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein each correlation parameter relates to a rotation or warping of the respective signal cluster.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein each first likelihood metric is further based on:

a different one of a plurality of variance parameters, wherein each variance parameter is based on a variance estimate with respect to a different one of the signal clusters; and

a different one of a plurality of correlation parameters, wherein each correlation parameter is based on a correlation estimate with respect to a different one of the signal clusters.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining the one signal constellation point and the first source symbol based on one or more of the first likelihood metrics.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining one or more bit-level first likelihood metrics based on one or more of the first likelihood metrics; and

determining one or more code-bits associated with the one signal constellation point and the first source symbol based on one or more of the bit-level first likelihood metrics.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the communications channel comprises a multi-carrier channel, and the interference and/or noise effects result at least in part from one or more other source signals simultaneously transmitted on other carriers over the multi-carrier channel.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the receiver comprises a single carrier receiver, and wherein the core parameters, variance parameters and correlation parameters and the determination of the first likelihood metrics do not require information characterizing the other source signals simultaneously transmitted on other carriers over the multi-carrier channel.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modulated source signal further reflects a second source symbol mapped to a further one of the plurality of signal constellation points, the method further comprising:

acquiring, from the received first signal, a received representation of the modulated source signal with respect to the second source symbol; and

determining a plurality of second likelihood metrics, wherein each second likelihood metric is based on the received representation of the modulated source signal with respect to the second source symbol and a different one of the core parameters.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining the further signal constellation point and the second source symbol based on one or more of the second likelihood metrics.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining one or more bit-level second likelihood metrics based on one or more of the second likelihood metrics; and

determining one or more code-bits associated with the further signal constellation point and the second source symbol based on one or more of the bit-level second likelihood metrics.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the interference and/or noise effects reflected by the signal cluster associated with the one signal constellation point differ from the interference and/or noise effects reflected by the signal cluster associated with the further signal constellation point, and the first likelihood metrics differ from the second likelihood metrics in a manner that accommodates for the differences between the interference and/or noise effects reflected by the signal cluster associated with the one signal constellation point and the interference and/or noise effects reflected by the signal cluster associated with the further signal constellation point.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein each second likelihood metric is further based on a different one of a plurality of variance parameters, and wherein each variance parameter is based on a variance estimate with respect to a different one of the signal clusters.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein each second likelihood metric is further based on a different one of a plurality of correlation parameters, and wherein each correlation parameter is based on a correlation estimate with respect to a different one of the signal clusters.

21. The method of claim 15 , wherein each second likelihood metric is further based on a different one of a plurality of variance parameters and a different one of a plurality of correlation parameters, and wherein each variance parameter is based on a variance estimate with respect to a different one of the signal clusters and each correlation parameter is based on a correlation estimate with respect to a different one of the signal clusters.

22. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the receiver, a training signal, wherein the training signal comprises a modulated source training signal transmitted on the first carrier over the communications channel, wherein the modulated source training signal reflects a repeated transmission of each of a plurality of source symbols including the first source symbol, wherein each source symbol is linked with a different one of the signal constellation points and each repeated transmission of the source symbol is mapped to the linked constellation point;

acquiring, from the received training signal, a received representation of the modulated source training signal with respect to each of the repeated transmissions of each of the source symbols;

determining the signal clusters, wherein each signal cluster comprises a plurality of signal points, wherein each signal point of the signal cluster reflects the received representation of the modulated source training signal with respect to a different one of the repeated transmissions of the source symbol that is linked with the signal constellation point associated with the signal cluster; and

determining the centroid estimate with respect to each signal cluster based on a centroid or center of mass with respect to the signal points of the signal cluster.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising:

determining the one signal constellation point and the first source symbol based on one or more of the first likelihood metrics.

24. The method of claim 22 , further comprising:

determining one or more bit-level first likelihood metrics based on one or more of the first likelihood metrics; and

determining one or more code-bits associated with the one signal constellation point and the first source symbol based on one or more of the bit-level first likelihood metrics.

25. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

receiving, by the receiver, a training signal, wherein the training signal comprises a modulated source training signal transmitted on the first carrier over the communications channel, wherein the modulated source training signal reflects a repeated transmission of each of a plurality of source symbols including the first source symbol, wherein each source symbol is linked with a different one of the signal constellation points and each repeated transmission of the source symbol is mapped to the linked constellation point;

acquiring, from the received training signal, a received representation of the modulated source training signal with respect to each of the repeated transmissions of each of the source symbols;

determining the signal clusters, wherein each signal cluster comprises a plurality of signal points, wherein each signal point of the signal cluster reflects the received representation of the modulated source training signal with respect to a different one of the repeated transmissions of the source symbol that is linked with the signal constellation point associated with the signal cluster;

determining the centroid estimate with respect to each signal cluster based on a centroid or center of mass with respect to the signal points of the signal cluster; and

determining the variance estimate with respect to each signal cluster based on variances with respect to the signal points of the signal cluster and the associated signal constellation point.

26. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving, by the receiver, a training signal, wherein the training signal comprises a modulated source training signal transmitted on the first carrier over the communications channel, wherein the modulated source training signal reflects a repeated transmission of each of a plurality of source symbols including the first source symbol, wherein each source symbol is linked with a different one of the signal constellation points and each repeated transmission of the source symbol is mapped to the linked constellation point;

acquiring, from the received training signal, a received representation of the modulated source training signal with respect to each of the repeated transmissions of each of the source symbols;

determining the signal clusters, wherein each signal cluster comprises a plurality of signal points, wherein each signal point of the signal cluster reflects the received representation of the modulated source training signal with respect to a different one of the repeated transmissions of the source symbol that is linked with the signal constellation point associated with the signal cluster;

determining the centroid estimate with respect to each signal cluster based on a centroid or center of mass with respect to the signal points of the signal cluster; and

determining the correlation estimate with respect to each signal cluster based on cross-correlations with respect to the signal points of the signal cluster and the associated signal constellation point.

27. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

receiving, by the receiver, a training signal, wherein the training signal comprises a modulated source training signal transmitted on the first carrier over the communications channel, wherein the modulated source training signal reflects a repeated transmission of each of a plurality of source symbols including the first source symbol, wherein each source symbol is linked with a different one of the signal constellation points and each repeated transmission of the source symbol is mapped to the linked constellation point;

acquiring, from the received training signal, a received form of the modulated source training signal with respect to each of the repeated transmissions of each of the source symbols;

determining the signal clusters, wherein each signal cluster comprises a plurality of signal points, wherein each signal point of the signal cluster reflects the received representation of the modulated source training signal with respect to a different one of the repeated transmissions of the source symbol that is linked with the signal constellation point associated with the signal cluster;

determining the centroid estimate with respect to each signal cluster based on a centroid or center of mass with respect to the signal points of the signal cluster;

determining the variance estimate with respect to each signal cluster based on variances with respect to the signal points of the signal cluster and the associated signal constellation point; and

determining the correlation estimate with respect to each signal cluster based on cross-correlations with respect to the signal points of the signal cluster and the associated signal constellation point.

28. The method of claim 27 , further comprising:

determining the one signal constellation point and the first source symbol based on one or more of the first likelihood metrics.

29. The method of claim 27 , further comprising:

determining one or more bit-level first likelihood metrics based on one or more of the first likelihood metrics; and

determining one or more code-bits associated with the one signal constellation point and the first source symbol based on one or more of the bit-level first likelihood metrics.

30. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver module configured to receive a first signal, wherein the first signal comprises a modulated source signal transmitted on a first carrier over a communications channel, wherein the modulated source signal reflects a first source symbol mapped to a one of a plurality of signal constellation points, wherein each signal constellation point is associated with a different one of a plurality of signal clusters, wherein each signal cluster reflects interference and/or noise effects with respect to the associated signal constellation point;

a signal acquisition module configured to acquire, from the received first signal, a received representation of the modulated source signal with respect to the first source symbol; and

a computation module configured to determine a plurality of first likelihood metrics, wherein each first likelihood metric is based on the received representation of the modulated source signal with respect to the first source symbol and a different one of a plurality of core parameters, wherein each core parameter is based on a centroid estimate with respect to a different one of the signal clusters.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 , further comprising:

a determination module configured to determine the one signal constellation point and the first source symbol based on one or more of the first likelihood metrics.

32. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the computation module is further configured to determine one or more bit-level first likelihood metrics based on one or more of the first likelihood metrics, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a determination module configured to determine one or more code-bits associated with the one signal constellation point and the first source symbol based on one or more of the bit-level first likelihood metrics.

33. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the communications channel comprises a multi-carrier channel, and the interference and/or noise effects result at least in part from one or more other source signals simultaneously transmitted on other carriers over the multi-carrier channel.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 , wherein the apparatus comprises a single carrier receiver, and wherein the core parameters and the determination of the first likelihood metrics do not require information characterizing the other source signals simultaneously transmitted on other carriers over the multi-carrier channel.

35. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein each first likelihood metric is further based on a different one of a plurality of variance parameters, wherein each variance parameter is based on a variance estimate with respect to a different one of the signal clusters.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein each variance parameter relates to a shape of the respective signal cluster.

37. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein each first likelihood metric is further based on a different one of a plurality of correlation parameters, wherein each correlation parameter is based on a correlation estimate with respect to a different one of the signal clusters.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein each correlation parameter relates to a rotation or warping of the respective signal cluster.

39. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein each first likelihood metric is further based on:

a different one of a plurality of variance parameters, wherein each variance parameter is based on a variance estimate with respect to a different one of the signal clusters; and

a different one of a plurality of correlation parameters, wherein each correlation parameter is based on a correlation estimate with respect to a different one of the signal clusters.

40. The method of claim 39 , further comprising:

a determination module configured to determine the one signal constellation point and the first source symbol based on one or more of the first likelihood metrics.

41. The apparatus of claim 39 , wherein the computation module is further configured to determine one or more bit-level first likelihood metrics based on one or more of the first likelihood metrics, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a determination module configured to determine one or more code-bits associated with the one signal constellation point and the first source symbol based on one or more of the bit-level first likelihood metrics.

42. The apparatus of claim 39 , wherein the communications channel comprises a multi-carrier channel, and the interference and/or noise effects result at least in part from one or more other source signals simultaneously transmitted on other carriers over the multi-carrier channel.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 , wherein the apparatus comprises a single carrier receiver, and wherein the core parameters, variance parameters and correlation parameters and the determination of the first likelihood metrics do not require information characterizing the other source signals simultaneously transmitted on other carriers over the multi-carrier channel.

44. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the modulated source signal further reflects a second source symbol mapped to a further one of the plurality of signal constellation points, and wherein:

the signal acquisition module is further configured to acquire, from the received first signal, a received representation of the modulated source signal with respect to the second source symbol; and

the computation module is further configured to determine a plurality of second likelihood metrics, wherein each second likelihood metric is based on the received representation of the modulated source signal with respect to the second source symbol and a different one of the core parameters.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 , further comprising:

a determination module configured to determine the further signal constellation point and the second source symbol based on one or more of the second likelihood metrics.

46. The apparatus of claim 44 , wherein the computation module is further configured to determine one or more bit-level second likelihood metrics based on one or more of the second likelihood metrics, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a determination module configured to determine one or more code-bits associated with the further signal constellation point and the second source symbol based on one or more of the bit-level second likelihood metrics.

47. The apparatus of claim 44 , wherein the interference and/or noise effects reflected by the signal cluster associated with the one signal constellation point differ from the interference and/or noise effects reflected by the signal cluster associated with the further signal constellation point, and the first likelihood metrics differ from the second likelihood metrics in a manner that accommodates for the differences between the interference and/or noise effects reflected by the signal cluster associated with the one signal constellation point and the interference and/or noise effects reflected by the signal cluster associated with the further signal constellation point.

48. The apparatus of claim 44 , wherein each second likelihood metric is further based on a different one of a plurality of variance parameters, and wherein each variance parameter is based on a variance estimate with respect to a different one of the signal clusters.

49. The apparatus of claim 44 , wherein each second likelihood metric is further based on a different one of a plurality of correlation parameters, and wherein each correlation parameter is based on a correlation estimate with respect to a different one of the signal clusters.

50. The apparatus of claim 44 , wherein each second likelihood metric is further based on a different one of a plurality of variance parameters and a different one of a plurality of correlation parameters, and wherein each variance parameter is based on a variance estimate with respect to a different one of the signal clusters and each correlation parameter is based on a correlation estimate with respect to a different one of the signal clusters.

51. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein:

the receiver module is further configured to receive a training signal, wherein the training signal comprises a modulated source training signal transmitted on the first carrier over the communications channel, wherein the modulated source training signal reflects a repeated transmission of each of a plurality of source symbols including the first source symbol, wherein each source symbol is linked with a different one of the signal constellation points and each repeated transmission of the source symbol is mapped to the linked constellation point;

the signal acquisition module is further configured to acquire, from the received training signal, a received representation of the modulated source training signal with respect to each of the repeated transmissions of each of the source symbols;

the computation module is further configured to determine the signal clusters, wherein each signal cluster comprises a plurality of signal points, wherein each signal point of the signal cluster reflects the received representation of the modulated source training signal with respect to a different one of the repeated transmissions of the source symbol that is linked with the signal constellation point associated with the signal cluster; and

the computation module is further configured to determine the centroid estimate with respect to each signal cluster based on a centroid or center of mass with respect to the signal points of the signal cluster.

52. The apparatus of claim 51 , further comprising:

a determination module configured to determine the further signal constellation point and the second source symbol based on one or more of the second likelihood metrics.

53. The apparatus of claim 51 , wherein the computation module is further configured to determine one or more bit-level second likelihood metrics based on one or more of the second likelihood metrics, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a determination module configured to determine one or more code-bits associated with the further signal constellation point and the second source symbol based on one or more of the bit-level second likelihood metrics.

54. The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein:

the receiver module is further configured to receive a training signal, wherein the training signal comprises a modulated source training signal transmitted on the first carrier over the communications channel, wherein the modulated source training signal reflects a repeated transmission of each of a plurality of source symbols including the first source symbol, wherein each source symbol is linked with a different one of the signal constellation points and each repeated transmission of the source symbol is mapped to the linked constellation point;

the signal acquisition module is further configured to acquire, from the received training signal, a received representation of the modulated source training signal with respect to each of the repeated transmissions of each of the source symbols;

the computation module is further configured to determine the signal clusters, wherein each signal cluster comprises a plurality of signal points, wherein each signal point of the signal cluster reflects the received representation of the modulated source training signal with respect to a different one of the repeated transmissions of the source symbol that is linked with the signal constellation point associated with the signal cluster;

the computation module is further configured to determine the centroid estimate with respect to each signal cluster based on a centroid or center of mass with respect to the signal points of the signal cluster; and

the computation module is further configured to determine the variance estimate with respect to each signal cluster based on variances with respect to the signal points of the signal cluster and the associated signal constellation point.

55. The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein:

the receiver module is further configured to receive a training signal, wherein the training signal comprises a modulated source training signal transmitted on the first carrier over the communications channel, wherein the modulated source training signal reflects a repeated transmission of each of a plurality of source symbols including the first source symbol, wherein each source symbol is linked with a different one of the signal constellation points and each repeated transmission of the source symbol is mapped to the linked constellation point;

the signal acquisition module is further configured to acquire, from the received training signal, a received representation of the modulated source training signal with respect to each of the repeated transmissions of each of the source symbols;

the computation module is further configured to determine the signal clusters, wherein each signal cluster comprises a plurality of signal points, wherein each signal point of the signal cluster reflects the received representation of the modulated source training signal with respect to a different one of the repeated transmissions of the source symbol that is linked with the signal constellation point associated with the signal cluster;

the computation module is further configured to determine the centroid estimate with respect to each signal cluster based on a centroid or center of mass with respect to the signal points of the signal cluster; and

the computation module is further configured to determine the correlation estimate with respect to each signal cluster based on cross-correlations with respect to the signal points of the signal cluster and the associated signal constellation point.

56. The apparatus of claim 39 , further comprising:

the receiver module is further configured to receive a training signal, wherein the training signal comprises a modulated source training signal transmitted on the first carrier over the communications channel, wherein the modulated source training signal reflects a repeated transmission of each of a plurality of source symbols including the first source symbol, wherein each source symbol is linked with a different one of the signal constellation points and each repeated transmission of the source symbol is mapped to the linked constellation point;

the signal acquisition module is further configured to acquire, from the received training signal, a received form of the modulated source training signal with respect to each of the repeated transmissions of each of the source symbols;

the computation module is further configured to determine the signal clusters, wherein each signal cluster comprises a plurality of signal points, wherein each signal point of the signal cluster reflects the received representation of the modulated source training signal with respect to a different one of the repeated transmissions of the source symbol that is linked with the signal constellation point associated with the signal cluster;

the computation module is further configured to determine the centroid estimate with respect to each signal cluster based on a centroid or center of mass with respect to the signal points of the signal cluster;

the computation module is further configured to determine the variance estimate with respect to each signal cluster based on variances with respect to the signal points of the signal cluster and the associated signal constellation point; and

the computation module is further configured to determine the correlation estimate with respect to each signal cluster based on cross-correlations with respect to the signal points of the signal cluster and the associated signal constellation point.

57. The apparatus of claim 56 , further comprising:

a determination module configured to determine the further signal constellation point and the second source symbol based on one or more of the second likelihood metrics.

58. The apparatus of claim 56 , wherein the computation module is further configured to determine one or more bit-level second likelihood metrics based on one or more of the second likelihood metrics, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a determination module configured to determine one or more code-bits associated with the further signal constellation point and the second source symbol based on one or more of the bit-level second likelihood metrics.