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Samsung patents faster way to decode polar codes in wireless data

Samsung has filed a patent for a hardware design that decodes polar codes, a method used to correct errors in wireless data transmission. The system simplifies the decoding process by removing unnecessary parts of the calculation tree based on known fixed bits, allowing the processor to check fewer options. This approach aims to make the decoding step more efficient by focusing only on the most likely data paths.

Why it mattersThis is a routine improvement to the internal logic of wireless chips that helps devices process data more efficiently, though it is unlikely to be noticeable to end users.

In the filing’s own words

A decoder includes a memory and processor configured to cause the decoder to receive a polar encoded codeword including frozen bits having arbitrary values, and generate a pruned decoding list tree by collapsing special subtrees based on a frozen-qualifiers vector defining values and locations of the frozen bits having arbitrary values. The decoder performs soft calculations of different layers of the pruned tree using one or more modules. The results of the soft calculations are output as lists. The decoder calculates hypotheses and costs for each of K best path options included in each of L lists according to a size and a type of tree, determines the best path out of L*K best path options based on the hypotheses and costs, calculates hard decisions for the K best path options, and outputs one of the hard decisions as a decoded codeword.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A decoder comprising: a memory storing instructions; and a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to execute the instructions to cause the decoder to receive a polar encoded codeword including frozen bits having arbitrary values, generate a pruned decoding list tree by collapsing special subtrees identified based on a frozen-qualifiers vector defining values and locations of the frozen bits having arbitrary values within the polar encoded codeword, perform first soft calculations for nodes in upper layers of the pruned decoding list tree, the first soft calculations generating first outputs including soft values for nodes in the upper layers of the pruned decoding list tree, perform mid-layer soft calculations for nodes in mid layers of the pruned decoding list tree, the mid-layer soft calculations generating second outputs including a plurality of lists of path metrics for each root node of a subtree of the pruned decoding list tree, each path metric associated with a path from the root node of the subtree to a terminal node of the subtree, the plurality of lists including L lists, each of the L lists including K best path options, the L lists cumulatively including L×*K best path options, calculate hypotheses and costs for each of K best path options included in each of the L lists according to a size and a type of the pruned decoding list tree, the hypotheses representing decisions for potential decode continuation, determine the best path out of the L×*K best path options based on the hypotheses and costs of each of the K best path options included in each of the L lists, and a hard decision function, and output a decoded codeword based on the best path.

Facts

Company
Samsung (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)
Official title
LOW GATE-COUNT HARDWARE ARCHITECTURE FOR LIST-DECODING OF POLAR CODE
Publication number
US20260312723A1
Application number
19093792
Filed
Mar 28, 2025
Published
Oct 8, 2026
Inventors
4
Claims
20

Classified under

H04L 1/0057 Electricity & electronicsH04L 1/0045 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.