Hybrid turbo-MUD for multiple access systems

The present invention is a high quality real-time Turbo-MUD processing system initially employing a high complexity multi-user detector that results in better estimates of the bit streams, and then the remaining iterations employing a computationally low linear-based-MUD/Turbo-MUD. The present approach uses more computational computations at the first iteration, and less computations on subsequent processing due to cycling through the Turbo-MUD process with a low complexity sub-optimal detector that significantly cleans up the estimates in a few iterations of the Turbo-MUD. The present invention also provides an efficient means of estimating symbols transmitted in a multi-user environment in overloaded or super-saturated conditions.