Abstract: A method for processing encoded data using error control coding in accordance with the present invention includes: a) obtaining Q codewords and P codewords from a storage location, wherein the Q codewords and the P codewords are all obtained in a single pass through the storage location, b) calculating P partial syndromes for said P codewords, c) calculating Q partial syndromes for the Q codewords, and d) storing the Q partial syndromes and the P partial syndromes in a buffer that is separate from the main memory. In some embodiments, storing the Q partial syndromes and the P partial syndromes in the buffer includes storing the Q partial syndromes in a first buffer, and storing the P partial syndromes in a second buffer.

Abstract: A method for queuing hardware control blocks, such as SCBs, for a system including a system processor coupled to a plurality of host adapter devices and a buffer memory controller device by an I/O bus is based on use of an endless new hardware command block queue, and an endless done hardware command block queue. The hardware command blocks for a plurality of devices, where each device includes a device processor, are managed by forming an endless queue for a device in a memory external to the device. A first pointer to the endless queue is maintained in a memory that is not within the memory space of the device processor. A second pointer to the endless queue is maintained in a memory addressable by the device processor. The first and second pointers address the head and tail hardware command block array sites of the endless queue.