An algebraic soft-decision decoder for Hermitian codes is presented. We apply Koetter and Vardy's soft-decision decoding framework, now well established for Reed-Solmon codes, to Hermitian codes. First we provide an algebraic foundation for soft-decision decoding. Then we present an interpolation algorithm to find the  Q -polynomial that plays a key role in the decoding. With some simulation results, we compare performances of the algebraic soft-decision decoders for Hermitian codes and Reed-Solmon codes, favorable to the former.
['Kwankyu Lee', "Michael E. O'Sullivan"]
Algebraic Soft-Decision Decoding of Hermitian Codes