Generalized concatenated error correction coding scheme with locality

A method for retrieving data within a memory device, comprising:

• reading stored data from a memory device;
• and
• decoding the read data,
• wherein decoding the read data comprises individually decoding sub-codewords of the read data to reconstruct original data, and
• wherein when a sub-codeword of the read data cannot be decoded, decoding the read data comprises decoding a plurality of outer codewords, each of which includes two car more sub-codewords including the sub-codeword that could not be individually encoded to reconstruct the original data, without individually decoding the sub-codewords of the read data.

A method for storing data within a memory device, comprising:

• receiving data to be stored;
• encoding the received data;
• and
• storing the encoded data within the memory device,
• wherein encoding the received data comprises:
• encoding the data into a plurality of sub-codewords that are each independently decodable to reconstruct the received data with a first level of error correction within a first layer of encoding;
• grouping the plurality of sub-codewords into a plurality of outer codewords independently decodable to reconstruct the received data with a second level of error correction that is more robust than the first level of error correction within a second layer of encoding;
• and
• grouping the plurality of outer codewords into at least one larger codeword that is larger than each of the plurality of outer codewords, the larger codeword being independently decodable to reconstruct the received data with a third level of error correction that is more robust than the second level of error correction.