ECC Metadata Decoding in Reed-Solomon Parity Symbols

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Solution Overview

Problem

Error correction codes consume memory space and bandwidth, and existing methods for encoding metadata within these codes can compromise the correction capability of error correction codes, particularly in Reed-Solomon (RS) coding architectures.

Innovation Solution

Encoding metadata within the parity symbols of error correction codes, using dependencies across codewords to minimize the impact on correction capability, and employing a modified concurrent double decoding algorithm to determine the metadata value with minimal latency and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If metadata is encoded within error correction codes, then additional information can be stored without consuming extra memory space or bandwidth, but the correction capability of the error correction codes is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation storage capacityVSAvoiderror correction capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The metadata encoding process is segmented into multiple stages: first encoding metadata into parity symbols, then using dependencies across multiple codewords to reconstruct the original metadata values. This segmentation allows the system to extract metadata without permanently compromising the error correction capability of the full codeword structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Metadata is encoded into the parity symbols during the initial error correction encoding process, before the actual data transmission or storage occurs. This preliminary encoding allows the metadata to be extracted later through dependency relationships across multiple codewords, without requiring additional bandwidth or memory space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If conventional error correction codes are used, then data integrity can be ensured, but additional memory space and bandwidth are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidmemory space and bandwidth

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The error correction code structure is made multi-functional by embedding metadata encoding capabilities within the existing parity symbol generation process. The same encoding machinery that produces error correction parity bits also generates metadata-encoded parity symbols, allowing a single system to perform both error correction and metadata storage functions without requiring additional dedicated resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If metadata is extracted by decoding all codewords, then accurate metadata values can be determined, but decoding latency and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemetadata accuracyVSAvoiddecoding latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of fully decoding all codewords to extract metadata, the system performs partial decoding by utilizing dependency relationships across multiple codewords. The metadata extraction process stops once sufficient information is gathered from a subset of codewords to determine the metadata value through voting or consensus mechanisms, avoiding the excessive action of completely decoding every single codeword.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Measurement precision

If full decoding is performed to determine metadata values, then accurate results can be obtained, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemetadata accuracyVSAvoiddecoding power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The metadata extraction process performs only the necessary partial decoding required to determine metadata values, rather than executing complete decoding of all codewords. By leveraging dependency relationships and using voting mechanisms across multiple codewords, the system achieves accurate metadata extraction with significantly reduced computational effort and power consumption compared to full decoding of every codeword.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12261623B2Decoding metadata encoded in error correction codes

Publication Date: 2025.03.25 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure include techniques for encoding and decoding metadata in error correction codes. During read operation, a decoder generates a first output corresponding to the at least one metadata bit having a first state and a second output corresponding to the at least one metadata bit having a second state. When one of the first and second outputs have a zero value, the decoder sets a value of the at least one metadata bit to the first state or the second state corresponding to the first output or the second output having the zero value. When both the first and second outputs are non-zero, the decoder decodes the codeword with the assumption of both the metadata bit having the first state and the second state to determine if the codeword is correctable with the at least one metadata bit.