A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRACKWISE BURST ERROR CORRECTION IN A MULTITRACK STORAGE FORMAT

摘要

A method and apparatus for trackwise burst error correction in multitrack storage has an error protective code format that is based on first and second linear block codes each with a plurality of symbols. Of each word pair that consists of one word from either code, and whose words have a pivot symbol in common, the latter words have mutually different cross-track orientations. Each individual symbol forms the pivot symbol of one such word pair. The method first decodes an error-decodable word pair having such pivot symbol in common. The next word pair is minimally shifted with respect to the latter pivot symbol and is then decoded, such shifting being non-uniform as based on the outcome of a most recent decoding. The method then alternates the shifting and decoding steps.