Reed-Solomon code encoder and syndrome generator circuit

Claim 1

Encoding and time domain syndrome generator apparatus for accepting from a data source a data block comprising data symbols comprising groups of binary bits, and creating from said data symbols check bits, derived from said data symbols in accord with a Reed-Solomon code, for output to an information channel, said encoding apparatus comprising: (a) register set means for processing bits of said data block comprising a first register, a second register, summing circuit means for performing modulo-two addition having a first input connected to said bits of said data block, a second input connected to said data source for receiving said output of said first register, and an output connected to said information channel and connected to an input of said second register, a plurality of registers connected in series to an output of said second register; (b) linear network means having one input connected to an input of said second register, one input connected to an output of said second register, and one input connected to an output of each of said plurality of registers for producing a modulo-two sum of finite field products of said inputs and the coefficients of a selected code generator polynomial; (c) means for transferring parallel outputs of said linear network to said first register; and (d) synchronization means for controlling the assembly of a data symbol in said register set means, transferring said parallel outputs of said linear network means to said first register and controlling the propagation of information through said register set means.