HAMMING CODE


Encode Input Data Sequence

Step 1: Enter the input data to be encoded

Bin     Hex

   Use extra parity bit

Step 2 [optional]: Click the "View/Modify Syndromes" button to view or modify the syndromes

Step 3: Click the "Compute Hamming Code" button to compute the Hamming code based on the input data and syndrome table


Modify Recieved Code Word

To simulate an error, modify the recieved code word and click the "Compute Error Syndrome" button.

 


 
 
   

 

Calculating the Hamming Code

The key to the Hamming Code is the use of extra parity bits to allow the identification of a single error. Create the code word as follows:

  1. Mark all bit positions that are powers of two as parity bits. (positions 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, etc.)
  2. All other bit positions are for the data to be encoded. (positions 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, etc.)
  3. Each parity bit calculates the parity for some of the bits in the code word. The position of the parity bit determines the sequence of bits that it alternately checks and skips. 
    Position 1: check 1 bit, skip 1 bit, check 1 bit, skip 1 bit, etc. (1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,...)
    Position 2: check 2 bits, skip 2 bits, check 2 bits, skip 2 bits, etc. (2,3,6,7,10,11,14,15,...)
    Position 4: check 4 bits, skip 4 bits, check 4 bits, skip 4 bits, etc. (4,5,6,7,12,13,14,15,20,21,22,23,...)
    Position 8: check 8 bits, skip 8 bits, check 8 bits, skip 8 bits, etc. (8-15,24-31,40-47,...)
    Position 16: check 16 bits, skip 16 bits, check 16 bits, skip 16 bits, etc. (16-31,48-63,80-95,...)
    Position 32: check 32 bits, skip 32 bits, check 32 bits, skip 32 bits, etc. (32-63,96-127,160-191,...)
    etc.
    4.
  4. Set a parity bit to 1 if the total number of ones in the positions it checks is odd. Set a parity bit to 0 if the total number of ones in the positions it checks is even.

 

Here is an example:

A byte of data: 10011010
Create the data word, leaving spaces for the parity bits: _ _ 1 _ 0 0 1 _ 1 0 1 0
Calculate the parity for each parity bit (a ? represents the bit position being set):

  • Position 1 checks bits 1,3,5,7,9,11: 
    ?     _ 1 _ 0 0 1 _ 1 0 1 0. Even parity so set position 1 to a 0: 0 _ 1 _ 0 0 1 _ 1 0 1 0
  • Position 2 checks bits 2,3,6,7,10,11:
    0     ? 1 _ 0 0 1 _ 1 0 1 0. Odd parity so set position 2 to a 1: 0 1 1 _ 0 0 1 _ 1 0 1 0
  • Position 4 checks bits 4,5,6,7,12:
    0 1 1     ? 0 0 1 _ 1 0 1 0. Odd parity so set position 4 to a 1: 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 _ 1 0 1 0
  • Position 8 checks bits 8,9,10,11,12:
    0 1 1 1 0 0 1     ? 1 0 1 0. Even parity so set position 8 to a 0: 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0
  • Code word: 011100101010.