METHODS FOR DECODING DATA IN DIGITAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

In a decoding system having a first constituent decoder and a second constituent decoder, a sequence of inputs that includes a system input, a first parity input, and a second parity input, is decoded. The first constituent decoder receives a feedback input and the first parity input, and based on these inputs, the first constituent decoder produces a first constituent decoder output. The output of the first constituent decoder is modified to obtain a first combined feedback and system input, thereby including a statistical dependency. The second constituent decoder receives this combined input and the second parity input and based on these inputs, produces a second constituent decoder output. The second constituent decoder output is processed to produce decoded bits. Embodiments further include modifying the output of the second constituent decoder and providing the modified output as the feedback to the first constituent decoder.