This invention relates to circuits that map memories for parallel turbo decoding.
Turbo code systems employ convolutional codes, which are generated by interleaving data. There are two types of turbo code systems: ones that use parallel concatenated convolutional codes, and ones that use serially concatenated convolutional codes. Data processing systems that employ parallel concatenated convolutional codes decode the codes in several stages. In a first stage, the original data (e.g. sequence of symbols) are processed, and in a second stage the data obtained by permuting the original sequence of symbols is processed, usually using the same process as in the first stage. The data are processed in parallel, requiring that the data be stored in several memories and accessed in parallel for the respective stage.
However, parallel processing often causes conflicts. If two or more elements or sets of data that are required to be accessed in a given cycle are in the same memory, they are not accessible in parallel. Consequently, the problem becomes one of organizing access to the data so that all required data are in different memories and can be simultaneously accessed in each of the processing stages.
Consider a one dimensional array of data, DATA[i]=d_i, where i=0, 1, . . . , NUM-1. Index i is also called a global address. If two interleaver tables, I_0 and I_1, have the same size with N rows and p columns, all indices or global addresses 0, 1, . . . , NUM-1 can be written to each of these tables in some order determined by two permutations. A process of data updating is controlled by a processor, whose commands have the form COM=(TABLE, ROW, OPERATION), where TABLE is I_0 or I_1, ROW is a row number, and OPERATION is a read or write operation.
During the process of turbo decoding the processor performs a sequence of commands over data in the array DATA. The aforementioned Andreev et al. application describes a decomposer for parallel decoding using n single port memories MEM_0, . . . , MEM_(n−1), where n is the smallest power of 2 that is greater than or equal to N and N is the number of rows in tables I_0 and I_1. The Andreev et al. technique creates a table F that represents each memory in a column, such as MEM_0, . . . ,MEM_7 shown in
Consider the processor command COM=(I_0, 0, R). Row number 0, R_0=(0,5), (0,0), (0,3), (0,7), (0,4), is taken from table G_0 and the processor simultaneously reads
As shown in table F, MEM_5 (sixth column of table F), address 0 (first row), contains the global index 25, MEM_0, addr_0 contains index 4, etc. Table F thus provides a correspondence between global addresses (array indices) and local addresses (memory addresses). Thus, {*} means that the read operation is simultaneously performed with global addresses 25,4,27,41,20, as it should be. {*} also shows that after reading the memories, the global addresses must be matched to the local addresses.
The present invention is directed to a global routing multiplexer that is capable of selecting p values among n given values and then make a permutation of them according to a given permutation of the length p, while both operations are performed dynamically, i.e. during execution. The global routing multiplexer according to the present invention is implemented in an integrated circuit in minimal chip area and without degrading timing characteristics.
In one embodiment of the invention, a routing multiplexer system provides p outputs based on a selected permutation of p inputs. Each module of an array of modules has two inputs, two outputs and a control input. Each module is arranged to supply the inputs to the outputs in a direct or transposed order based on the control input. A first p/2 group of the modules is coupled to the p inputs and a last p/2 group of the modules is coupled to the p outputs. A memory contains a plurality of control bit tables each containing bit values in an arrangement based on a respective permutation. The memory is responsive to the selected permutation to supply bits from a respective control bit table to the respective modules.
In some embodiments, the multiplexer system is embodied in an integrated circuit chip and is used to map p input memories for parallel turbo decoding. Map inputs couple an output of each memory to respective ones of the inputs of the first group of the modules, and map outputs are coupled to respective ones of the outputs of the last group of the modules.
In another embodiment of the invention, a control bit table for the routing multiplexer is formed by defining the selected permutation having length n, where n≧p. First and second groups of vertices are identified, each containing alternate vertices of a graph of the selected permutation. First and second permutations are calculated based on the respective first and second groups of vertices. The control bit table is formed based on the first and second permutations and on the vertices of the graph of the selected permutation.
A control bit table T is constructed for each row of tables G_0 and G_1 (
For the purposes of explanation, n is the number of single-port memories supplying a single element or value and p is the length, or number of values, of the permutation. Consider first a global routing multiplexer for n>p, herein designated GR_MUX(n.p). Multiplexer GR_MUX(n.p) is transformed into multiplexer GR_MUX(n.n) that realizes a permutation of length n. This can be done by adding n-p fictive outputs to the right side of the GR_MUX(n.p) to change the initial permutation of length p to the larger permutation of the length n. For example, a multiplexer GR_MUX(8.5) (
The control bits permit reconfiguration, or adjustment, of the internal structure of the multiplexer 20. More precisely, for any permutation P of inputs 24 there exists a set of control bits that can be applied to control inputs 22 to configure multiplexer 20 to perform permutation P and provide outputs 26 based on that permutation. In one sense, the multiplexer appears as a programmable multiplexer that is programmable by the set of control bits; in another sense, the multiplexer appears as a universal multiplexer to realize any permutation of a given length.
The control bits that form the multiplexer's “program” may be pre-computed and written into an external memory module. The control bits are read from that memory and programmatically switch the multiplexer to the required configuration for the desired permutation. In one form of the invention, the control bits are arranged in control bit tables for each permutation, which are stored in the memory. The flexibility of the programmable multiplexer makes it especially useful in such applications that make use of field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic modules (PLM), etc.
For an understanding of global routing multiplexer 20, it is first necessary to understand the coding of permutations, and particularly the application of coloring and decomposing techniques used in the recursive construction of the control bit tables.
1. Coloring of Permutations
Consider permutations of n numbers from the set {0,1, . . . ,n-1}. Permutation P, comprising P(0)=i_0, P(1)=i_1, . . . , P(n-1)=i_(n-1), is denoted by an ordered n-tuple (i_0, i_1, . . . ,i_(n-1), where i_0, i_1, . . . , i_(n-1) are numbers 0,1, . . . ,n-1 written in some order. Number n is the permutation length. For example, P=(7,1,0,6,2,5,3,4) is a permutation of the natural order (0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7) having a length n=8.
To color permutation P=(i_0, i_1, . . . ,i_(2m-1)) of even length 2m, consider a graph G with 2m vertices corresponding to numbers 0, 1, . . . ,2m-1. Alternate m edges (0,1), (2,3), . . . of this graph are formed by connecting vertices 0 and 1, . . . , 2 and 3, etc. These edges are referred to as black edges, and their construction does not depend on the permutation itself. Again using permutation P, yet another alternate m edges (1,2), (3,4), . . . are formed by connecting vertices 1 and 2, . . . ,3 and 4, etc., and are referred to as red edges. As far as P is a permutation, each vertex i is incident to exactly 1 black and 1 red edge. This implies that graph G is a union of several cycles each of even length (see
By moving along these cycles in some direction, each passing vertex i is colored in the outgoing edge's color (see
2. Decomposing of Permutations
Two new permutations P_0 and P_1, each of length m, can be extracted from a correctly colored graph G of permutation P of length 2m. From some starting point in the graph G, the m black numbers are recorded in a row L_0 and assigned j_0, . . . ,j_(m-1), in the order of passing of the respective black vertices. Similarly, the m red numbers are recorded in a row L_1 and assigned k_0 , . . . ,k_(m-1), in the order of passing of the respective red vertices. Thus, row L_0=(j_0, . . . ,j_(m-1)) and row L_=(k_, . . . ,k(m_1)), and each is in the order of the permutation. Stated another way, one of the two numbers defining an edge, (0,1), (2,3), . . . , (2m-2, 2m-1), is black and goes to row L_0, and the other number is red and goes to row L_1.
The numbers of both rows L_0 and L_1 are divided (as integers) by 2, and the result is rounded down to j and k, respectively: dividing 2j and 2j+1 by 2 results in j and dividing 2k and 2k+1 by 2 results in k. As a result, two permutations P_0=(j_0/2, . . . ,j_(m-1)/2) and P_1=(k_0/2, . . . ,k_(m-1)/2) are derived by dividing the numbers in rows L_0 and L_2 by 2 and rounding down.
This is exemplified in
3. Construction of Control Bit Tables T(P)
Though control bit tables may be built for permutations of arbitrary length n, what follows is a description of a control bit table for permutations where length n is a power of 2.
Control bit table T(P) for a given permutation P of a length n has a size (2k−1)×2k−1 and consists of 2k−1 rows each having length equal to 2k−i, where n=2k and k>0. This table consists of ones and zeroes and is built recursively for a given permutation P. Consider control bit tables T constructed for permutation P having a length n=8. In this case, k=3, and table T will have a size of 5×4 (5 rows each having a length of 4 bits).
For k=1 there are two permutations only, namely (0,1) and (1,0). For the first permutation T=(0) and for the second T=(1).
For k>1, the permutation P of length n=2k can be colored as described above, and decomposed into two permutations P_0 and P_1, each having a length 2k−1. Control bit tables T_0 and T_1 are then constructed for permutations P_0 and P_1, respectively. Control bit tables T_0 and T_1 may be constructed using global permutation networks described at pp. 309-311 in MODELS OF COMPUTATION—Exploring the Power of Computing, by John E. Savage, Addison-Wesley (1998), incorporated herein by reference. One of the two colors, black for instance, is chosen as the leading color, designated label_color. Thus, if black is the leading color, label_color=0.
A differently colored pair of numbers (i,j) is “well ordered” if Color(i)=label_color. Otherwise, the pair is “disordered”. The well ordered pairs are labeled with a label index of 0 and disordered pairs are labeled with a label index of 1.
For a given order of elements, pairs (i_0,i_1), . . . ,(i_(n-2),i_(n-1)) are labeled to determine label indices in a row S of length 2k−1. The first term of each pair identifies whether the pair is well ordered or disordered, thereby defining the bits of the row S. A first row, S_0, is created based on the order of input memories to the multiplexer (which is usually the natural order of the input memories). S_0=(a_0, . . . ,a_(m-1)), where m=2k−1 and a_i is a label index of the pair (2i, 2i+1). In the example, the order of memory inputs to the multiplexer is the natural order and is 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7. See
For a given permutation P=(i_0, . . . ,i_(n-1)) pairs (i_0,i_1), . . . ,(i_(n-2),i_(n-1)) determine the row of label indices S_1=(b_0, . . . ,b_(m-1)). Thus permutation P=(7,1,0,6,2,5,3,4) provides the pairs (7,1),(0,6),(2,5),(3,4). The first term of each pair indicates which among the pairs is well ordered or disordered, thereby defining the bits of rows S_0 and S_1.
With reference to
This leads to table T (
The process of building control bit tables for permutations can be considered as a coding permutations of length n=2k by binary tables of size (2k−1)×2k−1, where k>0. As shown in
Permutation P is colored at step 110. More particularly, at step 112 a graph for permutation P is constructed having 2m vertices and edges. The order of the vertices is the order of the permutation, as shown in
At step 120, permutation P is decomposed. More particularly, at step 122 the red vertices are assigned to row L_0 and the black vertices are assigned to row L_1, both in the same order as they appear in the permutation. At step 224, permutations P_0 and P_1 are calculated by dividing each value appearing in rows L_0 and L_1, respectively, by 2, rounding down. In the example given where L_0=(7,0,2,4) and L_1=(1,6,5,3), P_0=(3,0,1,2) and P_1=(0,3,2,1).
The control bit table T is constructed at step 130. More particularly, at step 132 tables T_0 and T_1 are constructed for each permutation P_0 and P_1, such as in the manner described in the aforementioned Savage book. At step 134, row S_0 is constructed based on the color of the leading vertex of vertex pairs in the natural order of vertices, and row S_1 is constructed based on the color of the leading vertex of vertex pairs in permutation P. If the color indicates the pair is well ordered, as evidenced in the example by a leading black vertex in the pair, the bit in the row is one binary value, such as 0. If the color indicates the pair is disordered, as evidenced in the example by a leading red vertex in the pair, the bit is the other binary value, such as 1. Hence, in the example, S_0 is (0,0,0,1) and S_1 is (0,0,0,1).
Control table T is constructed at step 136 as a concatenation of T_0 and T_1, and rows S_0 and S_1 are inserted as the top and bottom rows of table T. See
The logarithm (on base 2) of the number of all permutations of the length n, log n!, is asymptotically equal to n log n=2kk which is asymptotically equal to the size of control bit table T. This means that coding permutations using the control bit tables turns out to be an optimal one.
The choice of label_color is arbitrary and the choosing of another color (black instead of red or vice versa) results in a dual control bit table construction. Moreover, at each step of induction the choice of label_color can be changed so that different control bit tables may be used for the same permutation.
4. Construction of Global Routing Multiplexer 20
x=(˜c)&a|c&b,
y=c&a|(˜c)&b.
where ˜, & and | are Boolean operations of negation, conjunction and disjunction, respectively.
As shown in
While the present invention has been described in connection with permutations of length n, the global routing multiplexer 20 according to the present invention, and its attendant control bit tables, can be constructed for shorter permutations of length p, where p<n. More particularly, as described in connection with
Thus the present invention provides a multiplexer system having an array of modules 30 arranged in 2k−1 rows, with the first row containing p/2 modules coupled to the input memories being mapped and the last row containing p/2 modules forming the output of the multiplexer system, where p=2k.
It is clear (and can be proven by induction), that if table T is built as the control bit table for permutation P, and global routing multiplexer 20 is built for table T, then global routing multiplexer 20 realizes exactly permutation P, P→T→30→P. Multiplexer 20 has 2k−1 horizontal rows of modules 30. Consequently, its depth is logarithmic, which is an optimal (by order) depth.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application is a divisional of and claims priority from application Ser. No. 10/648,038, filed Aug. 26, 2003, for “Memory Mapping For Parallel Turbo Decoding” by Alexander E. Andreev, Anatoli A. Bolotov and Ranko Scepanovic and assigned to the same assignee as the present application, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. Cross reference is also made to application Ser. No. 10/299,270, filed Nov. 19, 2002 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,096,413, for “Decomposer for Parallel Turbo Decoding, Process and Integrated Circuit” by Alexander E. Andreev, Ranko Scepanovic and Vojislav Vukovic and assigned to the same assignee as the present application, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10648038 | Aug 2003 | US |
Child | 11924385 | Oct 2007 | US |