Method and apparatus for improved performance of iterative decoders on channels with memory

A method of decoding received data using an iterative decoder, wherein the iterative decoder comprises a soft-input soft-output (SISO) channel detector and an error correcting code (ECC) decoder, the method comprising:

• performing a plurality of decoding rounds that comprise more than a predetermined number of iterations of the ECC decoder, and
• performing subsequent decoding rounds that comprise at least one of an increased number of channel iterations in the iterative decoder than a previous decoding round and a decreased number of iterations of the ECC decoder, wherein each channel iteration comprises an iteration of the SISO channel detector and the predetermined number of iterations of the ECC decoder.

An iterative decoder for decoding received data comprising a soft-input soft-output (SISO) channel detector and an error correcting code (ECC) decoder, the iterative decoder is configured to:

• perform a plurality of decoding rounds that comprise at least one but less than a predetermined number of iterations of the ECC decoder, and
• subsequent decoding rounds that comprise at least one of an increased number of channel iterations in the iterative decoder than a previous decoding round and an increased number of iterations of the ECC decoder, wherein each channel iteration comprises an iteration of the SISO channel detector and the predetermined number of iterations of the ECC decoder.

An iterative decoder for decoding received data comprising a soft-input soft-output (SISO) channel detector and an error correcting code (ECC) decoder, the iterative decoder is configured to:

• perform a plurality of decoding rounds that comprise more than a predetermined number of iterations of the ECC decoder, and
• perform subsequent decoding rounds that comprise at least one of an increased number of channel iterations in the iterative decoder than a previous decoding round and a decreased number of iterations of the ECC decoder, wherein each channel iteration includes an iteration of the SISO channel detector and the predetermined number of iterations of the ECC decoder.