On the joint source-channel decoding of variable-length encoded sources: the BSC case

This paper proposes an optimal maximum a posteriori probability decoder for variable-length encoded sources over binary symmetric channels (BSC) that uses a novel state-space to deal with the problem of variable-length source codes in the decoder. This sequential, finite-delay, joint source-channel decoder delivers substantial improvements over the conventional decoder and also over a system that uses a standard forward error correcting code operating at the same over all bit rates. This decoder is also robust to inaccuracies in the estimation of channel statistics.