Convolutional encoding of self-dual block codes (2)

Solomon and van Tilborg have developed convolutional encoding algorithms for quadratic residue (QR) codes of lengths 47 and beyond. For these codes and reasonable constraint lengths, there are sequential decodings that may be simple, as in a convolutional encoding/decoding of the extended Golay Code. In addition, the previously found constraint length K = 9 for the (48, 24; 12) QR code was lower to K = 8 by Solomon. In our search for the smallest possible constraint lengths K for (80, 40; 16) self-dual quadratic residue and nonquadratic residue codes, we have found the constraint lengths K = 14 and K = 13, respectively. We have discovered a K = 21 convolutional encoding for the (104, 52; 20) QR code; there may be a smaller K for a (104, 52; 20) self-dual code that is not a quadratic residue code. The smaller the K, the less complex the sequential or Viterbi decoder.