In this paper, we extend the conventional error-trellis construction for convolutional codes to the case where a given check matrix H(D) has a factor Dl in some column (row). In the first case, there is a possibility that the size of the state space can be reduced using shifted error-subsequences, whereas in the second case, the size of the state space can be reduced using shifted syndrome-subsequences. The construction presented in this paper is based on the adjoint-obvious realization of the corresponding syndrome former HT(D). In the case where all the columns and rows of H(D) are delay free, the proposed construction is reduced to the conventional one of Schalkwijk et al. We also show that the proposed construction can equally realize the state-space reduction shown by Ariel et al. Moreover, we clarify the difference between their construction and that of ours using examples.

In this paper, we clarify the relationship between an initial (final) state in a tail-biting error-trellis and the obtained syndromes. We show that a final state is dependent on the first M syndromes as well, where M is the memory length of the parity-check matrix. Next, we calculate the probability of an initial (final) state conditioned by the syndromes. We also apply this method to concrete examples. It is shown that the initial (final) state in a tail-biting error-trellis is well estimated using these conditional probabilities.

Assume that G(D) is a k0n0 canonical generator matrix. Let G(L)(D) be the generator matrix obtained by integrating L consecutive trellis-modules associated with G(D). We also consider a modified version of G(L)(D) using a column permutation. Then take notice of the corresponding minimal trellis-module T(L). In this paper, we show that there is a case where the minimum number of states over all levels in T(L) is less than the minimum attained for the minimal trellis-module associated with G(D). In this case, combining with a shifted sectionalization of the trellis, we can construct a trellis-module with further reduced number of states. We actually present such an example. We also clarify the mechanism of state-space reduction. That is, we show that trellis-module integration combined with an appropriate column permutation and a shifted sectionalization of the trellis is equivalent to shifting some particular bits of the original code bits by L time units.

Yamada, Harashima, and Miyakawa proposed to use a trellis constructed based on a syndrome former for the purpose of Viterbi decoding of rate-(n-1)/n convolutional codes. In this paper, we extend their code-trellis construction to general rate-k/n convolutional codes. We show that the extended construction is equivalent to the one proposed by Sidorenko and Zyablov. Moreover, we show that the proposed method can also be applied to an error-trellis construction with minor modification.

In this letter, we show that the code-trellis and the error-trellis for a convolutional code can be reduced simultaneously, if reduction is possible. Assume that the error-trellis can be reduced by shifting particular error-subsequences. In this case, if the identical shifts occur in the corresponding subsequences of each code-path, then the code-trellis can also be reduced. First, we obtain pairs of transformations which generate the identical shifts both in the subsequences of the code-path and in those of the error-path. Next, by applying these transformations to the generator matrix and the parity-check matrix, we show that reduction of these matrices is accomplished simultaneously, if it is possible. Moreover, it is shown that the two associated trellises are also reduced simultaneously.