SCUNet-Based Decoding Algorithm for Rayleigh Fading Channels Integrating Feature Extraction and Recovery Mechanisms

WANG Leijun; WANG Kuan; XIE Jinfa; PENG Xidong; LI Jiawen; CHEN Rongjun

doi:10.11999/JEIT251138

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WANG Leijun, WANG Kuan, XIE Jinfa, PENG Xidong, LI Jiawen, CHEN Rongjun. SCUNet-Based Decoding Algorithm for Rayleigh Fading Channels Integrating Feature Extraction and Recovery Mechanisms[J]. Journal of Electronics & Information Technology. doi: 10.11999/JEIT251138

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WANG Leijun, WANG Kuan, XIE Jinfa, PENG Xidong, LI Jiawen, CHEN Rongjun. SCUNet-Based Decoding Algorithm for Rayleigh Fading Channels Integrating Feature Extraction and Recovery Mechanisms[J]. Journal of Electronics & Information Technology. doi: 10.11999/JEIT251138

Citation:

WANG Leijun, WANG Kuan, XIE Jinfa, PENG Xidong, LI Jiawen, CHEN Rongjun. SCUNet-Based Decoding Algorithm for Rayleigh Fading Channels Integrating Feature Extraction and Recovery Mechanisms[J]. Journal of Electronics & Information Technology. doi: 10.11999/JEIT251138

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SCUNet-Based Decoding Algorithm for Rayleigh Fading Channels Integrating Feature Extraction and Recovery Mechanisms

doi: 10.11999/JEIT251138 cstr: 32379.14.JEIT251138

School of Computer Science, Guangdong Polytechnic Normal University, Guangzhou 510665, China

Funds: The Key Discipline Improvement Project of Guangdong Province (2022ZDJS015, 2025ZDJS023), The Scientific Research Capacity Improvement Project of the Doctoral Program Construction Unit of Guangdong Polytechnic Normal University (22GPNUZDJS17), The Graduate Education Demonstration Base Project of Guangdong Polytechnic Normal University (2023YJSY04002), The Guangzhou Science and Technology Plan Project (2024B03J1361, 2023B03J1327)

Accepted Date: 2026-01-22
Rev Recd Date: 2026-01-22

Available Online: 2026-02-11

Abstract

Abstract

Objective This study addresses the limitations of conventional deep neural network (DNN) decoding algorithms in Rayleigh fading channels, such as constrained performance, insufficient generalization capability, and weak resistance to fading. To tackle these issues, a feature extraction and recovery decoding algorithm based on the SCUNet architecture, termed SCUNetDec, is proposed. In the 6G communication era, wireless channels are characterized by high dynamics and complexity, making it difficult for traditional decoding methods to meet the strict requirements for high reliability, low latency, and strong robustness. Therefore, exploring intelligent decoding mechanisms with adaptive feature learning capabilities holds significant theoretical and practical importance. By integrating a multi-dimensional feature extraction and recovery mechanism and incorporating a noise-level map to enhance the network’s perception of channel states, SCUNetDec effectively learns channel characteristics, mitigates fading effects, and significantly improves decoding performance. This research not only provides a new approach to the design of intelligent decoding in complex channel environments but also lays a key technical foundation for building efficient and intelligent 6G communication systems. Methods In the construction of the research methodology, the proposed SCUNetDec network deeply integrates three core mechanisms—data preprocessing, feature extraction and recovery, and noise-level mapping—to achieve efficient and robust signal representation learning and decoding performance enhancement in Rayleigh fading channel environments. First, in the data preprocessing stage, dimensionality expansion operations are employed to map the original one-dimensional received signal into a two-dimensional feature map, enhancing the discernibility of the signal structure and providing a spatial correlation foundation for subsequent deep feature extraction. Second, a feature extraction and recovery module is constructed: the extraction module combines multi-layer convolutional layers with attention mechanisms to effectively capture essential channel features in the signal, while the recovery module utilizes deconvolutional layers and residual connections to suppress irrelevant interference introduced during the dimensionality transformation process, thereby improving signal reconstruction quality and decoding accuracy. Furthermore, a noise-level map mechanism is incorporated into the network. By embedding SNR-aware information that aligns with the feature maps, the model can dynamically adapt to changes in channel conditions and adjust its decoding strategy and feature extraction intensity accordingly. The synergistic interaction of these three mechanisms significantly enhances the noise robustness, generalization capability, and decoding stability of SCUNetDec in Rayleigh fading channels, providing a systematic solution for intelligent decoding in complex 6G wireless environments. Results and Discussions The SCUNetDec decoding algorithm, built upon the SCUNet architecture, significantly enhances signal learning and decoding capabilities in Rayleigh fading channels by integrating a feature extraction-recovery module and a noise-level map. Its performance was evaluated through simulations under various coding schemes. For (7,4) Hamming code, SCUNetDec outperformed conventional DNN decoding and closely approached Maximum Likelihood (ML) performance. Specifically, at a BER of $ {10}^{-4} $, the performance gap to ML decoding was about 1.5 dB, and at a FER of $ {10}^{-3} $, the gap was approximately 2.0 dB (Fig. 4). This shows that SCUNetDec can capture complex relationships within signals, thereby effectively learning the latent associations between information and parity-check nodes. For (2,1,3) Convolutional code, SCUNetDec's performance at BER=$ {10}^{-3} $ was close to the Viterbi algorithm, with a marginal gap of only about 2.0 dB. In contrast, DNN decoding performance degraded significantly at high SNRs, demonstrating SCUNetDec's superior decoding capability and robustness (Fig. 5). For Polar codes with a rate of 0.5, SCUNetDec exhibited strong learning and generalization capabilities. It achieved a gain of approximately 4.0 dB over Successive Cancellation (SC) decoding at BER=$ {10}^{-4} $ and maintained an advantage of about 1.0 dB at FER=$ {10}^{-3} $, whereas SC decoding only showed a slight advantage in the low SNR region (Fig. 6). The comparison results of decoding time indicate that the SCUNetDec decoder can reduce decoding time compared to traditional decoding algorithms (Table 2). The ablation experiments demonstrate that combining the designed feature extraction and recovery modules with SCUNet leads to better decoding performance (Fig. 7). In summary, comprehensive analysis confirms that SCUNetDec delivers outstanding and robust decoding performance across multiple coding schemes and varying signal-to-noise ratio conditions. Conclusions To address the limited decoding performance of DNNs in Rayleigh fading channels, this paper proposes a decoding method named SCUNetDec based on the SCUNet network. The method enhances SCUNet by designing signal feature extraction and signal recovery modules. Simulations and ablation studies on Hamming codes, convolutional codes, and Polar codes demonstrate that the proposed modules exhibit strong generalization capability and effectiveness, making them suitable for various coding schemes. Compared with traditional DNN models, SCUNetDec shows superior decoding performance in Rayleigh fading channels, approaching that of conventional optimal decoding algorithms while significantly reducing decoding time. These results indicate that the SCUNetDec decoding algorithm possesses certain performance advantages and practical application potential in complex channel environments. Future work will focus on algorithm fusion and engineering implementation. On one hand, we aim to deepen the co-design of neural networks and traditional algorithms to achieve an optimal trade-off between performance and complexity via dynamic parameter optimization, while further exploring intelligent decoding schemes for long codes. On the other hand, research will be conducted on joint modulation-decoding modeling and end-to-end architectures to enhance the model's adaptability and practical value under high-order modulation and complex channel environments.
- Intelligent decoding,
- SCUNet,
- Feature extraction,
- Short codes,
- Rayleigh fading channel

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References(39)

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