Error Correction Coding

Hello.
My project is to be able to detect and correct the burst mode error in RF transmission medium. The data is to be transmitted in series where block coding is disallowed. My question is, how to implement any of the forward error correction method (viterbi, Reed-solomon etc) in my project? Is it purely programming or involving hardware implementation? Is it achievable for degree student in 10 weeks time?

There is lots of information on the www, do a Google search.