Abstract: The blocks may be stored temporarily and successively in an input memory before decoding them successively in an iterative manner. The input memory has a memory size allowing the storage of more than two blocks. A current indication representative of a permitted maximum number of iterations for decoding a current block may be defined. The current indication may be initialized to a reference number of iterations increased by an additional number of iterations dependent on the additional memory size of the input memory allowing supplementary storage beyond two blocks. The current block may be decoded until a decoding criterion is satisfied or so long as the number of iterations has not reached the current indication while a first subsequent block and possibly a part of a second subsequent block are stored in the input memory. The current indication may be updated for decoding the first subsequent block as a function of the number of iterations performed for decoding the current block.

Abstract: A method for the iterative decoding of a block of bits having a number N of bits to be decoded where N is a whole number greater than or equal to two, using an iterative decoding algorithm, comprises the generation of a current block of N intermediate decision bits by executing an iteration of the decoding algorithm, followed by the verification of a stability criterion for the current block by comparison of the current block with a given block of N reference bits. If the stability criterion is satisfied, the iterations of the iterative decoding algorithm are stopped and the current block of intermediate decision bits is delivered as a block of hard decision bits. Otherwise another iteration of the decoding algorithm is executed.

Abstract: A device for storing blocks of bits intended to be decoded according to a block decoding algorithm. The blocks are likely to belong to a given category out of a first category and a second category. The first category corresponds to a first given block size, and the second category corresponds to at least one second given block size less than said first block size. Said storage device comprises three storage elements having a size suitable for storing one block of the first category each, and at least two of which are structured to store either one block of the first category, or one block of the second category or a number of blocks of the second category simultaneously.