Forward error correction decode processing power reduction

A method for conditional forward error correction codeword decoding comprising:

• identifying a first codeword in a network transmission;
• generating a conditional decoding window that begins with the first codeword;
• aligning the conditional decoding window with a frame of the network transmission;
• generating a report that includes an indication of relevance of the conditional decoding window to a network device;
• and
• transmitting the conditional decoding window and the report to the network device.

A system for conditional forward error correction codeword decoding comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• memory including instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations to:
• receive a conditional decoding window including a first codeword;
• decode the first codeword to determine a second codeword in the conditional decoding window;
• obtain a report that includes a codeword relevance bit for the second codeword;
• and
• upon a determination that the codeword relevance bit indicates that the second codeword is irrelevant, discard the second codeword without decoding the second codeword.