Having trouble deciding which coding scheme to employ, how to design a new scheme, or how to improve an existing system? This summary of the state-of-the-art in iterative coding makes this decision more straightforward. With emphasis on the underlying theory, techniques to analyse and design practical iterative coding systems are presented. Using Gallager's original ensemble of LDPC codes, the basic concepts are extended for several general codes, including the practically important class of turbo codes. The simplicity of the binary erasure channel is exploited to develop analytical techniques and intuition, which are then applied to general channel models. A chapter on factor graphs helps to unify the important topics of information theory, coding and communication theory. Covering the most recent advances, this text is ideal for graduate students in electrical engineering and computer science, and practitioners. Additional resources, including instructor's solutions and figures, available online: www.cambridge.org/9780521852296.

'There is definitely a market for a book focusing on LDPC codes, and Tom Richardson and Reudiger Urbanke would be on anyone's short list to write that book. They have made substantive contributions to the theory and practice of LDPC codes. I believe this book will become required reading for researchers in LDPC codes at universities and communications companies around the world.'

Thomas Fuja - University of Notre Dame