1. A method for generating soft-value information for a communication system, comprising the steps of: receiving a first communication symbol; creating a set partition for a plurality of second communication symbols; for each one of said plurality of second communication symbols, determining a metric value associated with said first communication symbol; storing information associated with a minimum value of said plurality of determined metric values; determining a best symbol value and second best symbol value from said stored information; and calculating a difference between said best symbol value and said second best symbol value.