Iterative n-dimensional decoding

1. A decoder, which performs an iterative n-dimensional decoding of a data structure comprising a data bit frame, the data structure being coded by a n-dimensional code, in which each dimension is protected by an algebraic code having a maximum error correction capability ≦4 bits/symbols, the decoder comprising:

a syndrome calculating means, a syndrome processing means and a data processing means;

the syndrome calculating means:

for computing syndromes in all the n dimensions including a first dimension and a second dimension different from the first dimension in a single step,

for calculating all the syndromes in all dimensions once during a first decoding step before any further decoding steps are performed by said decoder, and

for outputting the syndromes to syndrome processing means;

the syndrome processing means:

for processing the syndromes output from the syndrome calculating means in the first dimension during a first iteration, comprising:

calculating error positions and error values of the syndromes in the first iteration; and

updating the syndromes in the first dimension and the second dimension when the syndromes are changed based on the error positions and error values calculated in the first iteration;

for processing the syndromes output from the syndrome calculating means in the second dimension during the second iteration, comprising:

calculating error positions and error values of the syndromes in the second iteration; and

updating the syndromes in the first dimension and the second dimension when the syndromes are changed based on the error positions and error values calculated in the second iteration;

for processing only syndromes with a value different from zero or syndromes that have been updated during a previous decoding step for a second iteration up through a last iteration,

for updating all syndromes affected by a correction of a bit of data during subsequent decoding steps by said decoder; and

for outputting information based on the processed syndromes,

wherein said syndrome processing means comprises syndrome storage means for storing the syndromes; and

data processing means

for storing data received by the decoder,

for correcting the data received by the decoder according to the information output by the syndrome processing means and

for outputting corrected data.

2. The decoder according to claim 1 , wherein the syndrome processing means further comprises error calculating means for responding to the syndrome storage means, for calculating errors, providing error values and error positions to said data processor, and correcting possible errors of stored data.

3. The decoder according to claim 2 , wherein said error calculating means cooperates with new syndrome calculating means for calculating new syndromes in the syndrome processor in all dimensions for any syndrome that have been changed by a previous correction in any one dimension.

4. The decoder according to claim 3 , wherein the output from the new syndrome calculating means is provided to said syndrome storage means to update the syndromes stored therein.

5. The decoder according to claim 3 , wherein the syndrome processing means comprises a syndrome multiplexer, which switches between an output of the syndrome calculating means and an output of the new syndrome calculating means.

6. The decoder according to claim 2 , wherein the syndrome processing means further comprises sequencing means for managing a number of syndrome correction iterations in a present time interval, said sequencing means cooperating with the error calculating means and the syndrome storage means.

7. The decoder according to claim 1 , wherein the data processing means comprises a first memory and a second memory and an output multiplexer, which switches between said first and second memories.

8. The decoder according to claim 7 , wherein each memory is connected to a data multiplexer, which switches between input data input into the decoder and the output information received from the_syndrome processing means.

9. The decoder according to claim 1 , wherein the syndrome processing means processes the syndromes for 1, 2, . . . , m iterations.

10. The decoder according to claim 1 , wherein only one circuit is used to process the syndromes in all the dimensions and for all the iterations.

11. The decoder according to claim 1 , wherein the decoder is a multi-dimensional decoder which operates in two dimensions.

12. The decoder according to claim 1 , wherein the decoder is embodied in an application-specific integrated circuit.

13. A network element apparatus comprising a decoder, which performs an iterative n-dimensional decoding of a data structure comprising a data bit frame, the data structure being coded by a n-dimensional code, in which each dimension is protected by an algebraic code having a maximum error correction capability ≦4 bits/symbols, wherein the decoder comprises:

a syndrome calculating means, a syndrome processing means and a data processing means;

the syndrome calculating means:

for computing syndromes in all the n dimensions including a first dimension and a second dimension different from the first dimension in a single step,

for calculating all the syndromes in all dimensions once during a first decoding step before any further decoding steps are performed by said decoder, and

for outputting the syndromes to the syndrome processing means;

the syndrome processing means:

for processing the syndromes output from the syndrome calculating means in the first dimension during a first iteration, comprising:

calculating error positions and error values of the syndromes in the first iteration; and

updating the syndromes in the first dimension and the second dimension when the syndromes are changed based on the error positions and error values calculated in the first iteration;

for processing the syndromes output from the syndrome calculating means in the second dimension during a second iteration, comprising:

calculating error positions and error values of the syndromes in the second iteration; and

updating the syndromes in the first dimension and the second dimension when the syndromes are changed based on the error positions and error values calculated in the second iteration;

for processing only syndromes with a value different from zero or syndromes that have been updated during a previous decoding step for a second iteration up through a last iteration, and for outputting information based on the processed syndromes,

for updating all syndromes affected by a correction of a bit of data during subsequent decoding steps by said decoder;

wherein the syndrome processing means comprises storage means for storing the syndromes; and

a data processing means:

for storing data received by the decoder data,

for correcting the data received by the decoder according to information output by the syndrome processing means and

for outputting the corrected data.