Abstract: A method includes: retrieving a first word comprising a plurality of data bits and a plurality of parity bits that correspond to the first word, wherein the plurality of data bits form N?1 groups and the plurality of parity bits form a first group different from the N?1 groups, and N is a positive integer greater than 2; receiving a request to update respective data bits of a first one of the N?1 groups; and providing a second word comprising updated data bits that form a second one of the N?1 groups and a plurality of updated parity bits that correspond to the second word, wherein the plurality of updated parity bits form a second group that has a same group index as the first one of the N?1 groups.