Reduced complexity non-binary ldpc decoding algorithm

A method, comprising:

• receiving, at a first variable node, a confidence vector comprising a number of confidence vector components equal to a number of possible states of a memory cell, an index of a primary one of the confidence vector components being representative of a current state of the memory cell, the memory cell configured to store one or more bits of a codeword;
• calculating a temporary vector component and corresponding component index for the first variable node based on other vector components and corresponding indices from one or more other variable nodes;
• updating the confidence vector based on the temporary vector component and corresponding component index and other vector components and corresponding indices;
• determining whether the index of the primary one of the confidence vector components has changed as a result of one or more of the calculating and updating steps;
• and
• if the index has changed, changing the current state of the memory cell in accordance with the updated index.

A system, comprising:

• a plurality of memory cells configured to store a codeword, each memory cell configured to store one or more bits of a codeword;
• a decoder comprising decoding logic representative of a plurality of variable nodes operably connected to a plurality of check nodes in a graph configuration, each variable node associated with a corresponding memory cell, the decoder configured to:
• receive, at a first variable node, a confidence vector comprising a number of vector components equal to a number of possible states of a respective memory cell, an initial index of a primary one of the vector components being representative of a current state of the respective memory cell;
• transmit, from the first variable node to a first check node, the index of the primary vector component and a first value for the primary vector component;
• receive, at the first check node, other vector component values and corresponding indices from one or more other variable nodes;
• calculate a first return value and corresponding return index for the first variable node based on the other vector component values and corresponding indices;
• return the first return value and corresponding return index to the first variable node;
• update the confidence vector based on the first return value and corresponding return index and other return values and corresponding other indices received from other check nodes;
• determine whether a component at the initial index is a primary component;
• and
• on determining that the component at the initial index is not a primary component, change the current state of the respective memory cell in accordance with a new index of the primary component.