Dynamic Block Reed-Solomon Decoder

"Reed-Solomon codes are used to perform Forward Error Correction (FEC). FEC introduces controlled redundancy in the data before it is transmitted to allow error correction at the receiver. The redundant data (check symbols) are transmitted with the original data to the receiver. A Reed-Solomon decoder is used in the receiver to correct any transmission errors. This type of error correction is widely used in data communications applications such as Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) and Optical Carriers (i.e. OC-192).

Reed-Solomon codes are written in the format RS(n, k) where k is the number of information symbols and n is the total number of symbols in a codeword or block. Each symbol in the codeword is wsymb bits wide. The Reed-Solomon Decoder performs detection and correction of encoded data available at the receiver after demodulation. The RS encoded data is then processed to determine whether any errors have occurred during transmission. Once the number of errors is determined, the decoder decides if they are within the range of correction. After determining this, the decoder corrects the errors in the received data."