Visual C# Guide
Error Detection Algorithms

Introduction

The page, Error Detection & Correction describes some error detection techniques used when character data is transmitted.

The algorithms are Pseudocode, you can do the conversion.

Single Parity Bit

Parity bits are set to make sure that the total number of on bits in a bit pattern is ether odd or even. You choose the method before you start. In this case, we will use odd parity.

Calculating A Parity Bit

(string) Function calculateOddParity(string bitPattern)
{
Declare thisBit As char
Declare numOn As int
Declare parityEncoded As string
FOR stepper ← 0 TO bitPattern.Length - 1
   thisBit ← bitPattern[stepper]
   IF thisBit = '1' THEN numOn ← numOn + 1
Endfor
IF numOn Mod 2 = 1 THEN
   parityEncoded ← "0" + bitPattern
ELSE
   parityEncoded ← "1" + bitPattern
EndIf
Return parityEncoded
}

Notice how we use the modulus to determine whether or not a number is even. If numOn Mod 2 is 1, then we have an odd number so we use a 0 for the parity bit. Otherwise we use a 1. If you swap these values around, you check for even parity instead.

The length of the input string is used for flexibility here - you should really check that you have a 7 character string containing only 1s and 0s.

Checking Parity

(bool) Function checkOddParity(string bitPattern)
{
Declare thisBit As char
Declare numOn As int
Declare valid As bool
FOR stepper ← 0 TO bitPattern.Length - 1
   thisBit ← bitPattern[stepper]
   IF thisBit = '1' THEN numOn ← numOn + 1
Endfor
IF numOn Mod 2 = 1 THEN
   valid ← TRUE
ELSE
   valid ← FALSE
EndIf
Return valid
}

An alternate method to check is to find bitPattern.substring(1,7) - everything except the first character (the parity bit). Pass this value to the calculateOddParity function and compare the result to the original input.