Low-complexity soft-decision decoding of error-correction codes

A controller, comprising:

• a read channel, including:
• a reliability checker operable to receive bits of data read from a data storage and operable to associate a reliability factor with each bit of data;
• and
• an updater operable to iteratively correct errors based upon the reliability factor.

A hard-disk drive system, comprising:

• a storage medium;
• a read head operable to read data from the storage medium;
• and
• a read channel coupled to the read head having an error-code correction module including:
• a reliability checker operable to receive bits of data read from a data storage and operable to associate a reliability factor with each bit of data;
• and
• an updater operable to iteratively correct errors based upon the reliability factor.

A computer system, comprising:

• a processor;
• a storage medium coupled to the processor;
• a controller for controlling a read head that is operable to read data from the storage medium;
• and
• a read channel coupled to the read head having an error-code correction module including:
• a reliability checker operable to receive bits of data read from a data storage and operable to associate a reliability factor with each bit of data;
• and
• an updater operable to iteratively correct errors based upon the reliability factor.

A method, comprising:

• reading bits of data from a data storage;
• determining a reliability factor for each bit of data;
• and
• correcting errors in the data based upon the determined reliability factors.