Decoding of linear codes over Galois rings

We present a method for decoding an arbitrary linear code over a Galois ring /spl Rscr/ by a process of lifting decoding algorithms for a family of linear codes over a finite field /spl Kscr/ forming an /spl alpha/-element chain, where /spl Kscr/ is the quotient field of /spl Rscr/ and /spl Rscr/ has characteristic p/sup /spl alpha//. As a new result, this method also works for linear codes over /spl Rscr/ which are nonfree /spl Rscr/-modules.