Configurable reed-solomon decoder based on modified forney syndromes

An apparatus comprising:

• a syndrome calculator configured to (i) receive a variable value in a configuration signal and (ii) calculate a plurality of first syndromes corresponding to a particular codeword of a plurality of codewords received in an input signal, said particular codeword having a plurality of information symbols and a plurality of parity symbols coded such that up to a fixed value of a plurality of errors in said particular codeword are correctable, said fixed value being greater than said variable value;
• and
• a transformation module configured to (i) receive said variable value in said configuration signal, (ii) transform said first syndromes into a plurality of second syndromes such that no greater than said variable value of said errors in said particular codeword are correctable and (iii) generate an intermediate signal carrying said second syndromes.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for (i) receiving a variable value in a configuration signal and (ii) calculating a plurality of first syndromes corresponding to a particular codeword of a plurality of codewords received in an input signal, said particular codeword having a plurality of information symbols and a plurality of parity symbols coded such that up to a fixed value of a plurality of errors in said particular codeword are correctable, said fixed value being greater than said variable value;
• and
• means for (i) receiving said variable value in said configuration signal, (ii) transforming said first syndromes into a plurality of second syndromes such that no greater than said variable value of said errors in said particular codeword are correctable and (iii) generating an intermediate signal carrying said second syndromes.