Enumerators for Protograph-Based Ensembles of LDPC and Generalized LDPC Codes

Protograph-based LDPC and generalized LDPC (G-LDPC) codes have the advantages of a simple design procedure and highly structured encoders and decoders. The design of such “protograph-based codes” relies on what is effectively a computer-based search. As such, following Gallager, it is prudent to restrict the search to a “good ensemble,” for example, an ensemble whose minimum distance grows linearly with codeword length. A good ensemble can also mean one with good stopping set, trapping set, or pseudocodeword properties. In this paper, ensemble codeword weight enumerators for finite-length LDPC and G-LDPC codes based on protographs were derived, and then the asymptotic case was considered. The asymptotic results allow us to determine whether or not the typical relative minimum distance in the ensemble grows linearly with codeword length. Then, the codeword weight enumerator technique is adapted to yield ensemble stopping set, trapping set, and pseudocodeword enumerators for protograph LDPC and G-LDPC codes. In this case, the asymptotic results allow us to determine whether or not the typical relative smallest stopping set size, trapping set size, and pseudoweight grows linearly with codeword length. Trapping set enumerators for G-LDPC code ensembles represent a more complex problem which we do not consider here.