1. For use in a wireless communication network, a method for constructing a low density parity check (LDPC) family of codes, the method comprising: constructing a mother code having a highest code rate in the LDPC family of codes, wherein the mother code is constructed by: selecting m number of rows and n number of columns; setting maximum column weights and row weights; designing a protograph matrix based on the set column weights and row weights and selected m and n; selecting circulant blocks based on the protograph matrix; and deriving a second code from the mother code by splitting each row of the mother code into two or more split rows and merging certain values from two or more split rows to form at least one row in the second code using splitting and merging rules that introduce no smaller cycles than those in the mother code.