QC-LDPC Decoder Early Termination for Faster Parity Checking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Non-volatile memory arrays in data storage systems face limited endurance, leading to data corruption, and existing error correction mechanisms are resource-intensive and inefficient, particularly in decoding parity data.

Innovation Solution

A decoder with early decoding termination detection is implemented, using a scalable and flexible architecture that supports multiple error code rates and lengths through parallel computation techniques, reducing the number of iterations and system components, thereby enhancing decoding efficiency and reducing power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional error correction decoding is performed on parity data, then data integrity is maintained, but processing time and power consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and checks only the critical parity bits needed to determine decoding success, rather than performing full decoding of all parity data. This selective extraction of essential information allows early termination of the decoding process when error correction is no longer needed, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining data integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary checks on parity data before committing to full decoding operations. By conducting initial validation and early detection of decoding success conditions, the system can determine whether complete decoding is necessary, preventing unnecessary processing time and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If full decoding of parity data is performed, then all errors are detected and corrected, but computational resources are excessively consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror detection and correctionVSAvoidcomputational resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential parity check results needed to determine whether decoding has succeeded, rather than computing all possible error correction combinations. This selective approach maintains comprehensive error detection capability while dramatically reducing the computational resources required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs partial decoding operations - enough to detect and correct errors when present, but stops early when the data is already valid. This partial action approach ensures adequate error correction while avoiding the excessive computational resources that would be consumed by completing full decoding regardless of necessity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If iterative decoding is performed to ensure complete error correction, then data reliability is maximized, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror correction completenessVSAvoiddecoding throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary validation checks before initiating iterative decoding processes. By detecting decoding success conditions early through initial parity checks, the system可以避免 unnecessary iterative decoding cycles, thereby maximizing data reliability while maintaining high decoding throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms that monitor decoding progress and terminate iteration when error correction is complete. This feedback-driven approach ensures comprehensive error correction when needed while automatically stopping iterations when data is already valid, optimizing the balance between reliability and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2992429B1Decoder having early decoding termination detection
Publication Date: 2022.03.09 WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES INC
  • EP2992429B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2992429B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2992429B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of decoders having early decoding termination detection are disclosed. The decoders can provide for flexible and scalable decoding and early termination detection, particularly when quasi-cyclic low-density parity-check code (QC LDPC) decoding is used. In one embodiment, a controller iteratively decodes a data unit using a coding matrix comprising a plurality of layers. The controller terminates decoding the data unit in response to determining that the decoded data units from more than one layer decoding operation satisfy a parity check equation and that the decoded data units from more than one layer decoding operation are the same. Advantageously, the termination of decoding of the data unit can reduce a number of iterations performed to decode the data unit.