Patent ID: 7028243

Claim:
A method for error correcting a data signal transmitted via a channel and containing data blocks with associated error checking information, which comprises the steps of: deciding message bits in a transmitted data block resulting in decided message bits; calculating soft-bit values relating to the decided message bits in the data block, the soft-bit values being representative of a level of reliability of a message bit decision; evaluating the associated error checking information with respect to the data block to determine if a single bit error exists and, if the single bit error exists, determining a location of the single bit error resulting in a located single error bit; and correcting the located single bit error, if: a first variable, determined on a basis of the soft-bit values and allows an assessment as to whether more than one decided message bit in the data block is incorrect, satisfies a first threshold value condition; and a second variable, determined on a basis of the soft-bit values and allows an assessment as to whether the decided message bit to be corrected is incorrect, satisfies a second threshold value condition.