Multichannel viterbi decoder

A communication system where the data rate of a given transmission has been encoded by a transmitter and is then used to adjust a plurality of convolutional decoders sharing common memory. The system uses common processing resources to provide up to four discrete channels having multi-rate convolutional error correction decoding resulting in a reduced silicon area and low power operation. The system is capable of supporting data communication at 8 kbps up to 64 kbps for high rate ISDN communication in receivers of both base station and consumer unit locations.