In a Viterbi decoder, a branch metric calculating operation of a series of
received input data is performed according to different sets of target
levels to realize a plurality of branch metric values, wherein said
target level sets are not identical. Accumulative operations of the
branch metric values are performed, respectively, and the plurality of
accumulated values are compared in groups. A plurality of control signals
and a plurality of least accumulated values are outputted according
comparing results of the accumulated values. The least accumulated values
are received and stored, and then fed back for next accumulation
operations. A plurality of possible output-data state transition tracks
are recoded in response to the control signals. The output data are
determined according to the least accumulated values and output-data
state transition tracks.