401 the iteration counter i is set to zero at step 402 the first half iteration decoding is performed and a decoded frame d 0 is stored for the first half iteration an error indicator ei 0 is set to a very large number this assumes that the error indicator is positively correlated with the number of errors in the frame however an error indicator that has negative correlation with the number of errors in the frame can also be used although the choice does not appear to be as natural in this case error indicator ei 0 should be set to a very small number or a negative number with a very large amplitude error indicators with positive correlation are assumed in the rest of the description the value that error indicator ei 0 is set to depends upon the implementation for example if ei hd is used ei 0 can be set to the size of the frame since this is the maximum value ei hd can have if ei ce is used ei 0 can be set to the maximum value that the implemented system can represent step 403 increments the iteration count i by 0 5 when m 1 step 404 continues to perform the half iteration decoding store decoded frame d i and compute error indicator ei i at step 405 a test compares whether i is greater than or equal to a prescribed value i min i min controls at which iteration that early termination mechanism starts to apply to iterative decoding and is typically set to 0 in which case step 405 is not necessary however there are some cases where it is believed the frame is unlikely to be correct in the first several iterations thus there is no need for testing.