Enhanced tearing save encoding

A method for decoding data stored in a memory, comprising:

• reading encoded data from the memory, wherein the encoded data includes a first encoded data, generated using an error correcting code (ECC), and the encoded Hamming weight, wherein for all higher Hamming weights the encoding should have at least 2t+1 bit-positions that change from 1 to 0 per Hamming weight, and wherein the ECC is configured to have a minimum Hamming distance of at least 4t+1 in order to correct up to t bit errors and detect up to 3t bit errors where t≥1;
• correcting the first encoded data with the ECC as corrected encoded data, including error detection of up to at least 3t errors and correction of up to t errors;
• decoding the corrected encoded data with the ECC as decoded data;
• decoding the encoded Hamming weight, including error correction and possibly checking for decoding errors;
• determining the Hamming weight of the corrected encoded data;
• checking that the decoded Hamming weight and the determined Hamming weight are equal, that the data decoding did not detect more than t errors, and the Hamming weight decoding has not detected a decoding error;
• and
• returning the decoded data if all checks have passed, otherwise returning an error.

A device configured to encode data stored in a first memory, comprising:

• a second memory;
• a processor coupled to the second memory, wherein the processor is further configured to:
• encode the data to be stored in memory with an error correcting code (ECC) as first encoded data, wherein the ECC is configured to have a minimum Hamming distance of at least 4t+1 in order to correct up to t bit errors and detect up to 3t bit errors where t≥1;
• determine a Hamming weight of the first encoded data;
• encode the determined Hamming weight, wherein for all higher Hamming weights the encoding should have at least 2t+1 bit-positions that change from 1 to 0 per Hamming weight;
• concatenate the first encoded data and the encoded Hamming weight as concatenated data;
• and
• store the concatenated data in the memory.

A device configured to decode data stored in a first memory, comprising:

• a second memory;
• a processor coupled to the second memory, wherein the processor is further configured to:
• read encoded data from the memory, wherein the encoded data includes a first encoded data, generated using an error correcting code (ECC), and the encoded Hamming weight, wherein for all higher Hamming weights the encoding should have at least 2t+1 bit-positions that change from 1 to 0 per Hamming weight, and wherein the ECC is configured to have a minimum Hamming distance of at least 4t+1 in order to correct up to t bit errors and detect up to 3t bit errors where t≥1;
• correct the first encoded data with the ECC as corrected encoded data, including error detection of up to at least 3t errors and correction of up to t errors;
• decode the corrected encoded data with the ECC as decoded data;
• decode the encoded Hamming weight, including error correction and possibly checking for decoding errors;
• determine the Hamming weight of the corrected encoded data;
• check that the decoded Hamming weight and the determined Hamming weight are equal, that the data decoding did not detect more than t errors, and the Hamming weight decoding has not detected a decoding error;
• and
• return the decoded data if all checks have passed, otherwise returning an error.