BEAST decoding - asymptotic complexity

BEAST is a bidirectional efficient algorithm for searching trees that performs soft-decision maximum-likelihood (ML) decoding of block codes. The decoding complexity of BEAST is significantly reduced compared to the Viterbi algorithm. An analysis of the asymptotic BEAST decoding complexity verifies BEAST's high efficiency compared to other algorithms. The best of the obtained asymptotic upper bounds on the BEAST decoding complexity is better than previously known bounds for ML decoding in a wide range of code rates.