Patent Document ID: 7590923
Application ID: 11195403
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for soft-decoding a Reed-Solomon decision-codeword using an iterative search to determine a decoded dataword, the method comprising: receiving a decision-codeword; producing a plurality of error locator polynomials based on the decision-codeword; and iteratively evaluating the plurality of error locator polynomials to determine the decoded dataword, wherein each iteration comprises: performing an accelerated Chien search on a first error locator polynomial selected from the plurality of error locator polynomials; determining if the first error locator polynomial is valid based on the accelerated Chien search; if the first error locator polynomial is determined to be valid, performing a non-accelerated Chien search and concurrent error evaluation on the first error locator polynomial; and if the first error locator polynomial is determined to be invalid, performing an accelerated Chien search on a second error locator polynomial selected from the plurality of error locator polynomials.