A survey of the communication theory literature: 1968-1973

This paper surveys the literature on communication theory from 1968 to 1973. A large part of this literature, and of this paper, deals with digital communication through linear dispersive channels. Error rate bounds for pulse-amplitude modulation systems, the optimization of linear transmitters and receivers, and adaptive equalization are topics discussed initially. Important results from the literature on non-linear receivers are described next, including decision feedback, maximum-likelihood, and Viterbi algorithm approaches. New results on the conventional digital modulation formats of amplitude, phase, and frequency-shift keying are summarized. The paper concludes with sections describing the literature from this period on nonlinear and non-Gaussian problems, analog communication, and feedback communication.