New double-byte error-correcting codes for memory systems

Double-byte error-correcting codes over GF(q) were constructed by Dumer (1981, 1988, 1992, 1995), which have the parameters n=q/sup m-1/, r/spl les/2m+[m-1/3], m=2, 3, ..., when q is even, and have the parameters n=q/sup m/, r/spl les/2m+[m/3]+1, m=2; 3, ..., when q is odd, respectively. We construct a class of double-byte error-correcting codes over GF(2/sup i/), which have the following parameters: n=q/sup m/, r/spl les/2m+[m/3]+1, m=3, 4, .... So our constructions reduce the code redundancy of Dumer by one symbol, and we eliminate the disparity in code redundancies obtained for even and odd q. A decoding procedure for our codes is also considered.