Canonical Convolutional Encoders for Unequal Error Protection

Abstract

In this paper, canonical convolutional encoders are studied for unequal error protection (UEP) from an algebraic theoretical viewpoint. We show that for any convolutional code there exists at least a canonical generator matrix which has the greatest separation vector, and hence the optimal UEP capability, among all canonical ones. A procedure for obtaining such desirable generator matrices is also proposed.