Fix DSC decoder: eleven bugs preventing VHF decode

This commit is contained in:
Jim Arndt
2026-07-21 00:15:52 -07:00
parent cc75388fd4
commit 8c9e66514d
+436 -104
View File
@@ -64,8 +64,11 @@ class DSCDecoder:
self.samples_per_bit = sample_rate // self.baud_rate
# FSK frequencies
self.mark_freq = DSC_MARK_FREQ # 2100 Hz = binary 1
self.space_freq = DSC_SPACE_FREQ # 1300 Hz = binary 0
# Per ITU-R M.493 Annex 1 Sec 1.4: higher frequency (2100 Hz) is
# the B-state (binary 0), lower frequency (1300 Hz) is the
# Y-state (binary 1).
self.mark_freq = DSC_MARK_FREQ # 2100 Hz = binary 0 (B state)
self.space_freq = DSC_SPACE_FREQ # 1300 Hz = binary 1 (Y state)
# Bandpass filter for DSC band (1100-2300 Hz)
nyq = sample_rate / 2
@@ -83,54 +86,87 @@ class DSCDecoder:
self.message_bits = []
def _build_correlators(self):
"""Build matched filter correlators for mark and space frequencies."""
"""
Build quadrature (I/Q) matched filter correlators for mark and
space frequencies.
A single-phase sine correlator is phase-sensitive: if the
incoming tone is ~90 degrees out of phase with the reference,
the correlation magnitude collapses toward zero even when the
correct tone is present, since there's no timing recovery
locking the symbol window to the actual bit transitions. Using
both a sine (Q) and cosine (I) reference and combining them as
sqrt(I^2 + Q^2) makes the magnitude phase-independent, which is
required for a free-running (non-timing-recovered) symbol
window like this one.
"""
# Duration for one bit
t = np.arange(self.samples_per_bit) / self.sample_rate
# Mark correlator (1800 Hz)
self.mark_ref = np.sin(2 * np.pi * self.mark_freq * t)
# Mark (2100 Hz) quadrature references
self.mark_ref_i = np.cos(2 * np.pi * self.mark_freq * t)
self.mark_ref_q = np.sin(2 * np.pi * self.mark_freq * t)
# Space correlator (1200 Hz)
self.space_ref = np.sin(2 * np.pi * self.space_freq * t)
# Space (1300 Hz) quadrature references
self.space_ref_i = np.cos(2 * np.pi * self.space_freq * t)
self.space_ref_q = np.sin(2 * np.pi * self.space_freq * t)
def process_audio(self, audio_data: bytes) -> Generator[dict, None, None]:
"""
Process audio data and yield decoded DSC messages.
Uses a stateful bandpass filter (carrying scipy's lfilter `zi`
state across calls) instead of re-filtering an overlapping
buffer each call. The previous approach re-filtered a retained
tail of samples on every call and re-yielded the resulting
bits, duplicating already-processed bits into the bit stream
on every call after the first - this corrupted sync/symbol
alignment starting right after the first chunk, and compounded
with every subsequent call. It also introduced small filter
transients at each chunk boundary from resetting filter state
to zero every time. Carrying filter state eliminates both:
confirmed to produce a bit-for-bit identical stream to a
single continuous one-shot filter pass on real captured audio.
Any leftover samples that don't complete a full bit period are
buffered and prepended to the next call's audio, so this works
correctly regardless of the caller's chunk size.
Args:
audio_data: Raw 16-bit signed PCM audio bytes
Yields:
Decoded DSC message dicts
"""
# Convert bytes to numpy array
samples = np.frombuffer(audio_data, dtype=np.int16)
if len(samples) == 0:
return
# Append to buffer
self.buffer = np.concatenate([self.buffer, samples])
if not hasattr(self, "_filter_zi"):
self._filter_zi = scipy_signal.lfilter_zi(self.bp_b, self.bp_a) * samples[0]
if not hasattr(self, "_leftover_samples"):
self._leftover_samples = np.array([], dtype=np.int16)
# Need at least one bit worth of samples
if len(self.buffer) < self.samples_per_bit:
samples = np.concatenate([self._leftover_samples, samples])
usable_len = (len(samples) // self.samples_per_bit) * self.samples_per_bit
if usable_len == 0:
self._leftover_samples = samples
return
# Apply bandpass filter
to_process = samples[:usable_len]
self._leftover_samples = samples[usable_len:]
try:
filtered = scipy_signal.lfilter(self.bp_b, self.bp_a, self.buffer)
filtered, self._filter_zi = scipy_signal.lfilter(
self.bp_b, self.bp_a, to_process.astype(np.float64), zi=self._filter_zi
)
except Exception as e:
logger.warning(f"Filter error: {e}")
return
# Demodulate FSK using correlation
bits = self._demodulate_fsk(filtered)
# Keep unprocessed samples (last bit's worth)
keep_samples = self.samples_per_bit * 2
if len(self.buffer) > keep_samples:
self.buffer = self.buffer[-keep_samples:]
# Process decoded bits
for bit in bits:
message = self._process_bit(bit)
if message:
@@ -138,7 +174,8 @@ class DSCDecoder:
def _demodulate_fsk(self, samples: np.ndarray) -> list[int]:
"""
Demodulate FSK audio to bits using correlation.
Demodulate FSK audio to bits using phase-independent quadrature
correlation.
Args:
samples: Filtered audio samples
@@ -157,15 +194,22 @@ class DSCDecoder:
if len(segment) < self.samples_per_bit:
break
# Correlate with mark and space references
mark_corr = np.abs(np.correlate(segment, self.mark_ref, mode="valid"))
space_corr = np.abs(np.correlate(segment, self.space_ref, mode="valid"))
# Quadrature (I/Q) magnitude - phase independent, unlike a
# single-phase correlation against just a sine reference.
mark_i = np.dot(segment, self.mark_ref_i)
mark_q = np.dot(segment, self.mark_ref_q)
mark_mag = np.sqrt(mark_i**2 + mark_q**2)
# Decision: mark (1) if mark correlation > space correlation
if np.max(mark_corr) > np.max(space_corr):
bits.append(1)
else:
space_i = np.dot(segment, self.space_ref_i)
space_q = np.dot(segment, self.space_ref_q)
space_mag = np.sqrt(space_i**2 + space_q**2)
# Per ITU-R M.493: mark (2100 Hz) = binary 0 (B state),
# space (1300 Hz) = binary 1 (Y state)
if mark_mag > space_mag:
bits.append(0)
else:
bits.append(1)
return bits
@@ -173,6 +217,15 @@ class DSCDecoder:
"""
Process a decoded bit and detect/decode DSC messages.
Uses a two-stage sync: coarse dot-pattern detection (20+
alternating bits, per VHF spec) followed by a fine-sync step
that tests bit offsets 0-9 against the check-bit test to find
the transmitter's actual 10-bit symbol grid. The coarse
trigger point is not reliably grid-aligned on its own - the
grid position is arbitrary relative to wherever our sample
buffer happens to start, and being off by even a few bits
breaks every subsequent check-bit test even on a clean signal.
Args:
bit: Decoded bit (0 or 1)
@@ -180,149 +233,428 @@ class DSCDecoder:
Decoded message dict if complete message found, None otherwise
"""
self.bit_buffer.append(bit)
# Keep buffer manageable
if len(self.bit_buffer) > 2000:
self.bit_buffer = self.bit_buffer[-1500:]
# Look for dot pattern (sync) - alternating 1010101...
if not hasattr(self, "sync_pending"):
self.sync_pending = False
self.sync_lookahead = []
if self.sync_pending:
self.sync_lookahead.append(bit)
if len(self.sync_lookahead) >= 40:
best_offset, best_valid = 0, -1
for offset in range(10):
valid = 0
for k in range(3):
s = offset + k * 10
if s + 10 <= len(self.sync_lookahead):
symbol_bits = self.sync_lookahead[s:s + 10]
if self._bits_to_symbol(symbol_bits) != -1:
valid += 1
if valid > best_valid:
best_valid, best_offset = valid, offset
if best_valid >= 2:
self.in_message = True
self.message_bits = self.sync_lookahead[best_offset:]
logger.debug(
f"DSC fine sync: offset={best_offset} valid={best_valid}/3"
)
else:
logger.debug("DSC fine sync failed, discarding false trigger")
self.sync_pending = False
self.sync_lookahead = []
return None
if not self.in_message and self._detect_dot_pattern():
self.in_message = True
self.message_bits = []
logger.debug("DSC sync detected")
self.sync_pending = True
self.sync_lookahead = []
logger.debug("DSC sync detected, refining bit alignment")
return None
# Collect message bits
if self.in_message:
self.message_bits.append(bit)
# Check for end of message or timeout
if len(self.message_bits) >= 10: # One symbol
if len(self.message_bits) >= 10 and len(self.message_bits) % 10 == 0: # One new complete symbol
# Try to decode accumulated symbols
message = self._try_decode_message()
if message:
self.in_message = False
self.message_bits = []
return message
# Timeout - too many bits without valid message
if len(self.message_bits) > 1800: # ~180 symbols max
logger.debug("DSC message timeout")
diagnosis = self._diagnose_decode_failure()
logger.debug(f"DSC message timeout: {diagnosis}")
self.in_message = False
self.message_bits = []
return None
def _detect_dot_pattern(self) -> bool:
"""
Detect DSC dot pattern for synchronization.
The dot pattern is at least 200 alternating bits (1010101...).
We require at least 100 consecutive alternations to avoid
false sync triggers from noise.
Per ITU-R M.493 Annex 1 Sec 3.4, there are two dot pattern
lengths: 200 bits (HF/MF acknowledgements and coast-station
calls) and 20 bits (VHF - all calls, per Sec 3.4.2, confirmed
by ETSI EN 300 338-3: "the equipment shall automatically set
the dot pattern length to 20 bits for all transmitted DSC
messages" on VHF). This decoder targets VHF ch. 70, so it must
use the 20-bit pattern - the previous 100-alternation/200-bit
requirement was the HF/MF number and made VHF sync structurally
unreachable, since real VHF traffic only ever produces roughly
20-27 alternating bits.
We check a slightly wider window (24 bits) than the strict
20-bit minimum to tolerate a possible bit error right at the
start of the pattern.
"""
if len(self.bit_buffer) < 200:
if len(self.bit_buffer) < 24:
return False
# Check last 200 bits for alternating pattern
last_bits = self.bit_buffer[-200:]
last_bits = self.bit_buffer[-24:]
alternations = 0
for i in range(1, len(last_bits)):
if last_bits[i] != last_bits[i - 1]:
alternations += 1
else:
alternations = 0
if alternations >= 100:
if alternations >= 20:
return True
return False
def _try_decode_message(self) -> dict | None:
"""
Try to decode accumulated message bits as DSC message.
Decode accumulated message bits into a DSC message.
Per ITU-R M.493 Annex 1 Sec 1.2: apart from phasing, every
character in a DSC call is transmitted TWICE (DX then RX, ~5
symbol-positions apart) - this is the actual wire format, not
an optional extra. The format specifier is additionally doubled
at the FIELD level (Sec 4.1: "2 identical characters"), giving
4 raw occurrences for it specifically and providing a reliable
anchor: the first position where a real format-specifier value
repeats exactly 2 symbol-positions later. From that anchor,
every other symbol (stride 2) is the de-interleaved, real
message content - confirmed empirically against real captures
and against Annex 1 Figure 1 (call sequence construction).
Returns:
Decoded message dict or None if not yet complete/valid
Decoded message dict, or None if not yet decodable (anchor
not found, fields incomplete, or EOS not found yet).
"""
# Need at least a few symbols to start decoding
num_symbols = len(self.message_bits) // 10
FORMAT_SPECIFIERS = {102, 112, 114, 116, 120, 123}
FORMAT_TEXT = {
102: "GEOGRAPHIC_AREA",
112: "DISTRESS",
114: "GROUP",
116: "ALL_SHIPS",
120: "INDIVIDUAL",
123: "INDIVIDUAL_SEMI_AUTO",
}
CATEGORY_TEXT = {
112: "DISTRESS",
110: "URGENCY",
108: "SAFETY",
106: "SHIPS_BUSINESS",
100: "ROUTINE",
}
# Nature of distress (Table 10 / Table A1-3), confirmed against
# spec text directly, consistent across M.493-8 through -15.
NATURE_TEXT = {
100: "FIRE_EXPLOSION",
101: "FLOODING",
102: "COLLISION",
103: "GROUNDING",
104: "LISTING_CAPSIZE_DANGER",
105: "SINKING",
106: "DISABLED_ADRIFT",
107: "UNDESIGNATED",
108: "ABANDONING_SHIP",
109: "PIRACY_ARMED_ROBBERY",
110: "MAN_OVERBOARD",
}
VALID_EOS = {117, 122, 127}
# Field layouts per format specifier: (field_name, symbol_count),
# in transmission order after the format specifier. Per Table 5
# (selective calls) and Table 4 (distress). Distress has no
# address/category field (priority is the format specifier
# itself).
FIELD_LAYOUTS = {
120: [("address", 5), ("category", 1), ("self_id", 5),
("telecommand", 2), ("frequency_1", 3), ("frequency_2", 3)],
123: [("address", 5), ("category", 1), ("self_id", 5),
("telecommand", 2), ("frequency_1", 3)],
116: [("category", 1), ("self_id", 5), ("telecommand", 2),
("frequency_1", 3)],
114: [("address", 5), ("category", 1), ("self_id", 5),
("telecommand", 2), ("frequency_1", 3), ("frequency_2", 3)],
102: [("address", 5), ("category", 1), ("self_id", 5),
("telecommand", 2), ("frequency_1", 3), ("frequency_2", 3)],
112: [("self_id", 5), ("nature", 1), ("coordinates", 5),
("time", 2), ("telecommand_msg4", 1)],
}
# Format 116 is overloaded: normally "All Ships" broadcast (the
# FIELD_LAYOUTS[116] entry above), but per ITU-R M.493-16 it is
# ALSO used for distress alert acknowledgement / distress
# self-cancel (Table A1-4.2) - a structurally different message.
# Per spec: "Distress acknowledgments where the transmitting ID
# and ship in distress ID are the same...should be interpreted
# as a self-cancel operation." Distinguished by category: a
# normal All Ships broadcast uses ROUTINE/SAFETY/URGENCY: a
# distress acknowledgement/self-cancel uses category DISTRESS
# (112). Layout below empirically mapped and validated against a
# real captured self-cancel message (own MMSI confirmed present,
# nature/coordinates/time matching the alert being cancelled).
# field_8_unconfirmed's exact semantic meaning is not yet
# confirmed against spec text - flagged honestly rather than
# guessed.
DISTRESS_ACK_LAYOUT_116 = [
("ship_in_distress_id", 5),
("field_8_unconfirmed", 1),
("ship_in_distress_id_repeat", 5),
("nature", 1),
("coordinates", 5),
("time", 2),
]
num_symbols = len(self.message_bits) // 10
if num_symbols < 5:
return None
# Extract symbols (10 bits each)
symbols = []
for i in range(num_symbols):
start = i * 10
end = start + 10
if end <= len(self.message_bits):
symbol_bits = self.message_bits[start:end]
symbol_value = self._bits_to_symbol(symbol_bits)
if symbol_value == -1:
logger.debug("DSC symbol check bit failure, aborting decode")
return None
symbols.append(symbol_value)
symbol_bits = self.message_bits[i * 10:i * 10 + 10]
symbol_value = self._bits_to_symbol(symbol_bits)
symbols.append(symbol_value)
# Strip phasing sequence (RX/DX symbols 120-126) from the
# start of the message. Per ITU-R M.493, after the dot pattern
# there are 7 phasing symbols before the format specifier.
# Bound to max 7 — if more are present, this is a bad sync.
msg_start = 0
for i, sym in enumerate(symbols):
if 120 <= sym <= 126:
msg_start = i + 1
else:
# Find the message anchor: first position where a real format
# specifier value repeats exactly 2 positions later.
anchor = None
for i in range(len(symbols) - 2):
if symbols[i] in FORMAT_SPECIFIERS and symbols[i] == symbols[i + 2]:
anchor = i
break
if msg_start > 7:
logger.debug("DSC bad sync: >7 phasing symbols stripped")
return None
symbols = symbols[msg_start:]
if len(symbols) < 5:
if anchor is None:
return None
# Look for EOS (End of Sequence) - symbols 117, 122, or 127
# EOS must appear after at least MIN_SYMBOLS_FOR_FORMAT symbols
eos_found = False
eos_index = -1
for i, sym in enumerate(symbols):
if sym in VALID_EOS:
if i < MIN_SYMBOLS_FOR_FORMAT:
continue # Too early — not a real EOS
eos_found = True
eos_index = i
# Track A is the primary de-interleaved sequence used for field
# boundaries. Track B (offset by one raw symbol position) is the
# redundant time-diversity copy: per ITU-R M.493 Annex 1 Sec 1.2,
# every character apart from phasing is transmitted twice (DX
# then RX). Confirmed empirically: Track A's logical position k
# pairs with Track B's position k+2 (Track B starts 2 positions
# "behind" since it still has 2 trailing phasing remnants before
# it catches up to real content) - validated with zero mismatches
# across a full real capture, and confirmed to correctly recover
# a synthetically-corrupted symbol in testing. When Track A's
# copy of a character fails the check-bit test, fall back to
# Track B's copy before giving up on that character - this is
# the actual error-correction mechanism ITU-R M.493 relies on.
dedup = symbols[anchor::2]
dedup_b = symbols[anchor + 1::2]
if len(dedup) < 2:
return None
def value_at(k):
"""Track A position k, falling back to Track B's diversity
copy (position k+2) if Track A's copy failed check bits.
This is the diversity-combining fallback that recovers
isolated real-world bit errors using ITU-R M.493's built-in
time-diversity redundancy."""
primary = dedup[k] if k < len(dedup) else -1
if primary != -1:
return primary
fallback_idx = k + 2
if 0 <= fallback_idx < len(dedup_b):
return dedup_b[fallback_idx]
return -1
format_code = value_at(0)
layout = FIELD_LAYOUTS.get(format_code)
if layout is None:
logger.debug(f"DSC unsupported/unrecognized format specifier: {format_code}")
return None
# Format 116 needs a peek at its category field to know which of
# the two structurally different layouts applies (see
# DISTRESS_ACK_LAYOUT_116 definition above for why).
is_distress_ack = False
if format_code == 116:
peeked_category = value_at(2)
if peeked_category == 112: # DISTRESS
layout = DISTRESS_ACK_LAYOUT_116
is_distress_ack = True
idx = 2 # skip the two format-specifier copies
fields = {}
if is_distress_ack:
fields["category"] = [112]
idx += 1 # already consumed by the peek above
for name, count in layout:
if idx + count > len(dedup):
return None # not enough data yet, keep accumulating
chunk = [value_at(idx + j) for j in range(count)]
fields[name] = chunk
idx += count
eos = None
for k in range(idx, len(dedup)):
v = value_at(k)
if v in VALID_EOS:
eos = v
break
if eos is None:
return None # message not complete yet
if not eos_found:
# Not complete yet
return None
def decode_mmsi(syms):
if len(syms) != 5 or any(s < 0 or s > 99 for s in syms):
return None
digits = "".join(f"{s:02d}" for s in syms)
return digits[:9]
# Decode the message from symbols
return self._decode_symbols(symbols[: eos_index + 1])
message = {
"type": "dsc",
"format": format_code,
"format_text": FORMAT_TEXT.get(format_code, f"UNKNOWN-{format_code}"),
"eos": eos,
"timestamp": datetime.utcnow().isoformat() + "Z",
}
if is_distress_ack:
message["format_text"] = "DISTRESS_ACK_OR_SELF_CANCEL"
if "address" in fields:
message["dest_mmsi"] = decode_mmsi(fields["address"])
if "self_id" in fields:
message["source_mmsi"] = decode_mmsi(fields["self_id"])
if "ship_in_distress_id" in fields:
ship_mmsi = decode_mmsi(fields["ship_in_distress_id"])
message["ship_in_distress_mmsi"] = ship_mmsi
if "source_mmsi" not in message:
# for a self-cancel, transmitting station IS the ship in
# distress - report it as source too for consistency with
# other message types
message["source_mmsi"] = ship_mmsi
if "category" in fields:
cat_val = fields["category"][0]
message["category"] = CATEGORY_TEXT.get(cat_val, f"UNKNOWN-{cat_val}")
if format_code == 112 or is_distress_ack:
message["category"] = "DISTRESS"
if "nature" in fields:
nature_val = fields["nature"][0]
message["nature"] = nature_val
message["nature_text"] = NATURE_TEXT.get(nature_val, f"UNKNOWN-{nature_val}")
if "coordinates" in fields:
message["coordinates_raw"] = fields["coordinates"]
if "time" in fields:
message["time_raw"] = fields["time"]
if "telecommand" in fields:
message["telecommand"] = fields["telecommand"]
return message
def _diagnose_decode_failure(self) -> str:
"""
Explain exactly why the current message_bits buffer failed to
decode, for logging at timeout. Mirrors _try_decode_message's
logic but reports where it stopped instead of returning None
silently - normal accumulation still returns None quietly (this
is only called once, at the moment of timeout, not on every
partial-accumulation call).
"""
FORMAT_SPECIFIERS = {102, 112, 114, 116, 120, 123}
FIELD_LAYOUTS = {
120: [("address", 5), ("category", 1), ("self_id", 5),
("telecommand", 2), ("frequency_1", 3), ("frequency_2", 3)],
123: [("address", 5), ("category", 1), ("self_id", 5),
("telecommand", 2), ("frequency_1", 3)],
116: [("category", 1), ("self_id", 5), ("telecommand", 2),
("frequency_1", 3)],
114: [("address", 5), ("category", 1), ("self_id", 5),
("telecommand", 2), ("frequency_1", 3), ("frequency_2", 3)],
102: [("address", 5), ("category", 1), ("self_id", 5),
("telecommand", 2), ("frequency_1", 3), ("frequency_2", 3)],
112: [("self_id", 5), ("nature", 1), ("coordinates", 5),
("time", 2), ("telecommand_msg4", 1)],
}
VALID_EOS = {117, 122, 127}
num_symbols = len(self.message_bits) // 10
symbols = [self._bits_to_symbol(self.message_bits[i * 10:i * 10 + 10]) for i in range(num_symbols)]
invalid_count = sum(1 for s in symbols if s == -1)
anchor = None
for i in range(len(symbols) - 2):
if symbols[i] in FORMAT_SPECIFIERS and symbols[i] == symbols[i + 2]:
anchor = i
break
if anchor is None:
return (f"no anchor found ({num_symbols} symbols, {invalid_count} invalid, "
f"first 15 symbols={symbols[:15]})")
dedup = symbols[anchor::2]
dedup_b = symbols[anchor + 1::2]
def value_at(k):
primary = dedup[k] if k < len(dedup) else -1
if primary != -1:
return primary
fb = k + 2
return dedup_b[fb] if 0 <= fb < len(dedup_b) else -1
format_code = value_at(0)
layout = FIELD_LAYOUTS.get(format_code)
if layout is None:
return f"anchor found at {anchor}, but format specifier {format_code} not recognized"
idx = 2
for name, count in layout:
if idx + count > len(dedup):
have = len(dedup) - idx
return (f"format={format_code}, stalled waiting for field "
f"'{name}' (need {count} symbols, have {max(have, 0)})")
idx += count
for k in range(idx, len(dedup)):
if value_at(k) in VALID_EOS:
return "all fields complete, EOS found - should have decoded (unexpected)"
return (f"format={format_code}, all fields complete, but no valid EOS "
f"found in remaining {len(dedup) - idx} symbols")
def _bits_to_symbol(self, bits: list[int]) -> int:
"""
Convert 10 bits to symbol value.
DSC uses 10-bit symbols: 7 information bits + 3 error bits.
The 3 check bits provide parity such that the total number of
'1' bits across all 10 bits should be even (even parity).
Returns -1 if the check bits are invalid.
Per ITU-R M.493 Annex 1 Sec 2 / Table 1: each DSC character is
a 10-bit code - 7 information bits (bits 1-7, transmitted LSB
first) plus 3 check bits (bits 8-10, transmitted MSB first).
The check bits encode, as a 3-bit binary number, the count of
"B" elements (binary 0) among the 7 information bits - this is
NOT simple parity. E.g. a BYY check-bit sequence (0,1,1) means
the symbol's info bits contain exactly 3 B-elements (spec's own
worked example).
Returns -1 if the check bits don't match the actual B-element
count in the info bits (character failed the ten-unit
error-detecting code).
"""
if len(bits) != 10:
return -1
# First 7 bits are data (LSB first in DSC)
info_bits = bits[:7]
check_bits = bits[7:10]
# Information bits: LSB first
value = 0
for i in range(7):
if bits[i]:
if info_bits[i]:
value |= 1 << i
# Validate check bits: total number of 1s should be even
ones = sum(bits)
if ones % 2 != 0:
# Check bits: MSB first, encode count of B (0-value) info bits
check_value = (check_bits[0] << 2) | (check_bits[1] << 1) | check_bits[2]
num_b_elements = 7 - sum(info_bits)
if check_value != num_b_elements:
return -1
return value