Application of the computer for real time encoding and decoding of cyclic block codes

Abstract

This thesis is concerned with cyclic block codes which can "be used for the detection and correction of errors in a transmitted message which are produced "by various types of noise. Computer programs were developed and used for the actual encoding and decoding process. Advantages of using the computer as against using various types of dedicated hardware is demonstrated. Two different methods of decoding are presented: the minimum distance decoder and the syndrome method decoder. Pseudo random noise sequences were also generated by computer program and used to simulate noise disturbance of the encoded transmitted message. Codes of several rates and with varying degrees of simulated channel noise were studied and compared with respect to the probability of error. It is shown how the methods developed in this thesis can materially help in choosing the 'best' code for a given noisy channel, consonant with other specified parameters for message transmission.