1. A system for rate matching and de-rate matching, the system comprising: a memory configured to contain a plurality of blocks of data; a digital signal processor configured to: pre-compute permutation parameters common to the plurality of blocks, wherein the plurality of blocks are subject to a set of given puncturing parameters; and for each block in the plurality of blocks: compute a block signature from pre-computed puncturing thresholds; match the block signature to one of a set of pre-computed zone signatures; derive a zone index corresponding to the one matched pre-computed zone signature; apply pre-computed permutation and puncturing transformations corresponding to the zone index to the block.