Detection and Correction Capabilities of Convolutional Codes

A convolutional code can be used to detect or correct infinite sequences of errors or to correct infinite sequences of erasures. First, erasure correction is shown to be related to error detection, as well as error detection to error correction. Next, the active burst distance is exploited, and various bounds on erasure correction, error detection, and error correction are obtained for convolutional codes. These bounds are illustrated by examples.