Patent ID: 8918704

Claim:
A decoding method to compute d c output vectors of a non-binary parity-check (NBPC) equation decoding unit used for LDPC check codes defined in a NB space, comprising: converting reliability vector messages of d c input vectors of a NBPC equation decoding unit to reliability vector messages of a delta domain, computed in logarithm-form with a value of maximum reliability as a reference for the corresponding conversion of an input vector to the delta domain reliability vector; determining one or more minimum values among each and every collection of the delta domain input vector entries corresponding respectively to each and every possible non-zero state of the NB space; storing in a final state (FS) storage, for respectively each and every possible non-zero state of the NB space, one or more minimum values and indicia of minimum values locations in an extra compressed state, called FS as above; computing a FS reliability, for each and every possible non-zero state of the NB space, as a result of a selection either of the minimum value of the considered non-zero state of the NB space, or of a combination sum of at least two minimum values stored in the FS storage; setting the FS reliability for the zero state of the NB space as zero; and computing the d c output vectors of reliabilities in a delta domain representation, based on the minimum values and indicia of minimum values locations stored in the FS storage and the FS reliabilities.