Configurable low-density parity-check decoder for LDPC codes of arbitrary block size and method of configuring the same

A configurable low-density parity check code (LDPC) decoder, comprising:

• pluralities of parity check units and bit node units;
• direct and reverse multi-size (m,n) barrel-shifters coupled to said pluralities of parity check units and bit node units, each of said direct and reverse multi-size (m,n) barrel-shifters including two n-barrel shifters and control circuitry configured to shift chunks of data therein and select said chunks for output thereby;
• and
• a control circuit, coupled to said pluralities of parity check units and bit node units and said direct and reverse multi-size (m,n) barrel-shifters and configured to configure sizes of said direct and reverse multi-size (m,n) barrel-shifters and numbers of said pluralities of parity check units and bit node units to cooperate therewith based on a block size of a particular LDPC code such that said LDPC decoder achieves λ-min decoding.