Convolutional code

Okay, imagine you have a secret message that you want to send to your friend, but you don't want anyone else to be able to read it. You decide to use a code to scramble up your message so that only your friend, who has the secret key, can unscramble it and read it.

A convolutional code is a type of code that works by taking your original message and adding in some extra information to create a new, scrambled message. This new message is called a "codeword" and it looks like gibberish to anyone who doesn't have the secret key.

The way a convolutional code works is a bit like drawing a maze. You start with your original message, which is like the entrance to the maze. You then draw a bunch of squiggly lines, which are like walls, around your message. These squiggly lines represent the extra information that the code is adding in.

You keep drawing these squiggly lines until you reach the end of your message, which is like the exit to the maze. The resulting maze-like pattern is your code, or "convolutional code." Your friend can use the secret key to navigate through the maze and unscramble your message.

The beauty of a convolutional code is that if there are any errors or distortions in the signal during transmission, your friend can still unscramble the message. That's because the code includes redundant information that can help to fill in any missing or distorted pieces.

So, in summary, a convolutional code is a type of code that adds extra information to your original message to create a scrambled code. It looks like a maze and includes redundant information that can help to fix any errors or distortions during transmission. Your friend can use the secret key to navigate the maze and unscramble your message.