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The terminology for block coding is that an input block of k bits
gives rise to an output block of n bits and this is called an (n,k)
code. This increase in block length means that the useful data rate (the
information transfer rate) is reduced by a factor k/n. This is called the rate of the code. |
Code rate R = k/n |
The additional data bits are carefully chosen such that they help differentiate one pattern of k bits in a block from a different pattern of k input bits. The factor (1 k/n) is usually termed the redundancy of the block code. |