• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.28 no.4C
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• pp.365-373
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• 2003

In this paper, we design a versatle RS decoder which can decode RS codes of any block length n as well as any message length k, based on a modified Euclid's algorithm (MEA). This unique feature is favorable for a shortened RS code of any block length it eliminates the need to insert zeros before decoding a shortened RS code. Furthermore, the value of error correcting capability t can be changed in real time at every codeword block. Thus, when a return channel is available, the error correcting capability can be adaptiverly altered according to channel state. The decoder permits 4-step pipelined processing : (1) syndrome calculation (2) MEA block (3) error magnitude calculation (4) decoder failure check. Each step is designed to form a structure suitable for decoding a RS code with varying block length. A new architecture is proposed for a MEA block in step (2) and an architecture of outputting in reversed order is employed for a polynomial evaluation in step (3). To maintain to throughput rate with less circuitry, the MEA block uses not only a multiplexing and recursive technique but also an overclocking technique. The adaptive RS decoder over GF($2^8$) with the maximal error correcting capability of 10 has been designed in VHDL, and successfully synthesized in a FPGA.