Optimum criterion for multilevel coding systems in AWGN channels

Based on [1,2,3], a novel criterion, the "capacity rule" and "mapping strategy", for the design of optimal MLC schemes over AWGN channels is proposed. According to this theory, the performance of multilevel coding with multistage decoding schemes (MLC/MSD) in AWGN channels is investigated, in which BCH codes are chosen as component codes, and three mapping strategies with 8ASK modulation are used. Numerical results indicate that when code rates of component codes in the MLC scheme are designed based on "capacity rule", the performance of the system with UP is optimum for AWGN fading channels.