Error Control Coding: An Introduction to Convolutional Codes

Error control coding is an indispensible part of any digital communication system. In this introductory course, we will discuss theory of convolutional codes, their encoding and decoding techniques as well as their applications in real world scenarios. We will also study how from simple codes by concatenation we can build more powerful error correcting codes. In particular, we will study in details, one such capacity approaching codes called turbo codes. 

Week 1:
Lecture 1: Introduction to error control coding
Lecture 2: Introduction to convolutional codes-I: state diagram, trellis diagram
Lecture 3: Introduction to convolutional codes-II: classification, realization, distance properties

Week 2:
Lecture 4: Decoding of convolutional codes-I: Viterbi algorithm
Lecture 5: Decoding of convolutional codes-II: BCJR algorithm

Week 3:
Lecture 6: Introduction to concatenated codes: parallel, serial
Lecture 7: Turbo codes: encoding, and properties

Week 4:
Lecture 8: Turbo decoding
Lecture 9: Convergence of turbo decoding algorithm
Lecture 10: Applications of convolutional codes