  In this paper, we present an iterative soft-decision decoding algorithm for
Reed-Solomon codes offering both complexity and performance advantages over
previously known decoding algorithms. Our algorithm is a list decoding
algorithm which combines two powerful soft decision decoding techniques which
were previously regarded in the literature as competitive, namely, the
Koetter-Vardy algebraic soft-decision decoding algorithm and belief-propagation
based on adaptive parity check matrices, recently proposed by Jiang and
Narayanan. Building on the Jiang-Narayanan algorithm, we present a
belief-propagation based algorithm with a significant reduction in
computational complexity. We introduce the concept of using a
belief-propagation based decoder to enhance the soft-input information prior to
decoding with an algebraic soft-decision decoder. Our algorithm can also be
viewed as an interpolation multiplicity assignment scheme for algebraic
soft-decision decoding of Reed-Solomon codes.
