A List Decoding Algorithm for Short Low-Density Parity-Check Codes

In this paper, a list decoding algorithm for low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes is presented. The algorithm uses a modification of the simple Gallager bit-flipping algorithm to generate a sequence of candidate codewords iteratively one at a time using a set of test error patterns based on the reliability information of the received symbols. It is particularly efficient for short block LDPC codes, both regular and irregular. Computer simulation results are used to compare the performance of the proposed algorithm with other known decoding algorithms for LDPC codes, with the result that the presented algorithm offers excellent performances. Performances comparable to those obtained with iterative decoding based on belief propagation can be achieved at a much smaller complexity.