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arXiv:1801.02726

Near Maximum Likelihood Decoding with Deep Learning

Eliya Nachmani, Yaron Bachar, Elad Marciano, David Burshtein, Yair Be'ery

Published Jan 8, 2018• 23 citations
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Abstract

A novel and efficient neural decoder algorithm is proposed. The proposed decoder is based on the neural Belief Propagation algorithm and the Automorphism Group. By combining neural belief propagation with permutations from the Automorphism Group we achieve near maximum likelihood performance for High Density Parity Check codes. Moreover, the proposed decoder significantly improves the decoding complexity, compared to our earlier work on the topic. We also investigate the training process and show how it can be accelerated. Simulations of the hessian and the condition number show why the learning process is accelerated. We demonstrate the decoding algorithm for various linear block codes of length up to 63 bits.

DOI
10.3929/ethz-b-000245051

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A novel and efficient neural decoder algorithm is proposed. The proposed decoder is based on the neural Belief Propagation algorithm and the Automorphism Group. By combining neural belief propagation with permutations from the Automorphism Group we achieve near maximum likelihood performance for High Density Parity Check codes. Moreover, the proposed decoder significantly improves the decoding complexity, compared to our earlier work on the topic. We also investigate the training process and show how it can be accelerated. Simulations of the hessian and the condition number show why the learning process is accelerated. We demonstrate the decoding algorithm for various linear block codes of length up to 63 bits.
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A novel deep learning method for improving the belief propagation algorithm is proposed. The method generalizes the standard belief propagation algorithm by assigning weights to the edges of the Tanner graph. These edges are then trained using deep learning techniques. A well-known property of the belief propagation algorithm is the independence of the performance on the transmitted codeword. A crucial property of our new method is that our decoder preserved this property. Furthermore, this property allows us to learn only a single codeword instead of exponential number of codewords. Improvements over the belief propagation algorithm are demonstrated for various high density parity check codes.