1. A wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU) configured for use in wireless communications comprising: an iterative decoder processor having a first input for receiving communication signal data and configured to output an iteration of estimate data produced therefrom for output via a first output; a decoder data memory configured to stored an iteration of estimate data having an input coupled to the first output of said iterative decoder processor and an output; said iterative decoder processor having a second input coupled to the output of said decoder data memory for receiving a stored iteration of estimate data and a second output for outputting an iteration of estimate data; said iterative decoder processor being selectively controllable to process an iteration of estimate data received from said decoder data memory via said second input to produce an iteration of estimate data for output via said first or second outputs; an iteration control circuit having an input coupled to the first output of said iterative decoder processor and a signature code generator configured to generate code signatures corresponding to iterations of estimate data such that each code signature has a bit size at least twenty times smaller than an iteration of estimate data; and said iteration control circuit configured to control said iterative decoder processor to process an iteration of estimate data received from said decoder data memory via said second input to produce an iteration of estimate data for output via said first or second outputs based on a comparison of generated code signatures.