Optimized error-correcting code (ECC) for data protection

An apparatus for detecting an error in a plurality of bits of a message protected by weight-3 code (W3C), comprising:

• means for parity bit encoding configured to receive the plurality of bits of the message and to output a plurality of parity bits for the plurality of bits of the message, wherein a number of the plurality of parity bits is greater than a minimum number of bits required for single error correction and double error detection (SECDED) protection of the plurality of bits of the message, wherein the W3C comprises a plurality of bits, wherein a number of the plurality of bits of the W3C is greater than the minimum number of bits required for SECDED protection of the plurality of bits of the message, and wherein the W3C provides single error correction and at least double error detection protection of the plurality of bits of the message;
• a first means for comparing configured to compare the plurality of parity bits to the plurality of bits of the W3C and to output an error syndrome, wherein the error syndrome comprises a plurality of bits representing results of comparisons between the plurality of parity bits and the plurality of bits of the W3C;
• a means for error locating configured to receive the error syndrome and to output an error location vector representing which bits of the plurality of bits of the message are in error;
• and
• a second means for comparing configured to compare the error location vector to the plurality of bits of the message and to output a corrected version of the plurality of bits of the message.