Adjustable error-correction for a reed solomon encoder/decoder

A method of providing error correction to data, the method comprising:

• receiving data with a plurality of encoder/decoder blocks in parallel, wherein each encoder/decoder block includes a plurality of encoder/decoder slices;
• within each encoder/decoder slice, latching the data and multiplying the latched data with a preselected static tap weight value to generate check symbols for encoding the data or error syndromes for correcting corrupted said data;
• within each encoder/decoder slice of a first encoder/decoder block, generating a control signal in response to multiplying;
• summing the control signals of the first encoder/decoder block;
• and
• transferring the summed control signals of the first encoder/decoder block to a second encoder/decoder block to encode the data or correct the corrupted said data.

A method of correcting errors in received data and encoding transmit data with error correction, the method comprising:

• determining a level of error correction to be provided to the data;
• selecting encoder/decoder blocks based on the determined level of error correction, wherein each encoder/decoder block comprises a plurality of encoder/decoder slices that are serially coupled to generate check symbols for encoding the transmit data and error syndromes for correcting corrupted received data;
• receiving data with the selected encoder/decoder blocks;
• generating a summed control signal with a first of the encoder/decoder blocks;
• and
• transferring the summed control signal to a second of the at least two encoder/decoder blocks to encode the transmit data with the check symbols or to correct the corrupted received data with the error syndromes.

A method of correcting errors in received data and encoding transmit data with error correction, the method comprising:

• selectively coupling a plurality of encoder/decoder blocks to receive data in parallel, wherein each encoder/decoder block includes a plurality of encoder/decoder slices;
• within each encoder/decoder slice, latching the data and multiplying the latched data with a preselected static tap weight value to generate check symbols for encoding the data or error syndromes for correcting corrupted said data;
• generating a control signal with a first encoder/decoder block in response to multiplying the latched data;
• and
• transferring the control signal to a second encoder/decoder block to encode the transmit data with the check symbols or to correct the corrupted received data with the error syndromes.

A transmitter for encoding data for transmission over a communication channel, the transmitter having an encoding system comprising:

• an encoder adapted to generate check symbols for encoding data, wherein the encoder comprises a plurality of encoder slices, and wherein each encoder slice has a preselected static tap weight value for computing the check symbols;
• a cascade module adapted to couple the plurality of encoder slices into blocks of encoder slices, wherein a first block of encoder slices is selectively operable in parallel with a second block of encoder slices and wherein the number of encoder blocks is less than the number of encoder slices;
• and
• a switch adapted to select at least the first block of encoder slices to be used in computing the check symbols.

A receiver for decoding received data from a communication channel, the receiver having an error correction system comprising:

• a decoder adapted to generate error syndromes for correcting corrupted data received via the communication channel, wherein the error syndromes are adapted to correct the corrupted data by determining error locations and error values within the corrupted data, wherein the decoder comprises a plurality of decoder slices, and wherein each decoder slice has a preselected static tap weight value for computing the error syndromes;
• a cascade module adapted to couple the plurality of decoder slices into blocks of decoder slices, wherein a first block of decoder slices is selectively operable in parallel with a second block of decoder slices and wherein the number of decoder blocks is less than the number of decoder slices;
• and
• a switch adapted to select at least the first block of decoder slices to be used in computing the error syndromes.