Error-correction coding is being used on an almost routine basis in most
new communication systems. Not only is coding equipment being used to
increase the energy efficiency of communication links, but coding ideas
are also providing innovative solutions to many related communication
problems. Among these are the elimination of intersymbol interference
caused by filtering and multipath and the improved demodulation of
certain frequency modulated signals by taking advantage of the "natural"
coding provided by a continuous phase. Although several books and nu-
merous articles have been written on coding theory, there are still
noticeable deficiencies. First, the practical aspects of translating a
specific decoding algorithm into actual hardware have been largely
ignored. The information that is available is sketchy and is widely
dispersed. Second, the information required to evaluate a particular
technique under situations that are en- countered in practice is
available for the most part only in private company reports. This book
is aimed at correcting both of these problems. It is written for the
design engineer who must build the coding and decoding equipment and for
the communication system engineer who must incorporate this equipment
into a system. It is also suitable as a senior-level or first-year
graduate text for an introductory one-semester course in coding theory.
The book U"Ses a minimum of mathematics and entirely avoids the
classical theorem/proof approach that is often seen in coding texts.
