Patent ID: 7853854

Claim:
A method for an iterative decoding of a block of bits having a number N of bits to be decoded where N is a whole number greater than or equal to two, said method being implemented by a decoder having an output memory and using an iterative decoding algorithm, with said method comprising: a) generating a current block of N intermediate decision bits by executing an iteration of the iterative decoding algorithm, followed by: b) verifying a stability criterion for said current block, evaluated over a number Q of prior iterations of the iterative decoding algorithm where Q is a whole number greater than or equal to one, including comparing the current block with at least one given block of N reference bits read from the output memory of the decoder, wherein the block of reference bits is a previous intermediate decision block generated during a previous iteration of the iterative decoding algorithm; and c) if the stability criterion is satisfied, stopping iterations of the iterative decoding algorithm and delivering the current block of intermediate decision bits as a block of hard decision bits, d) if the stability criterion is not satisfied, returning to a).