摘要 |
A method and apparatus for storing and reading digital information, in which the recorded information is protected by a double symbol correcting code involving interleaving between the codes and also employing an additional, optional error correcting code. The information is organized in sectors, which are arranged such that following the synchronization and header information sub-header information is provided to indicate different sub-modes of operation of the playback apparatus. During playback, when a first sub-mode indication value is detected, this means the sector contains further error protection information, that is, the optional error correcting code, for which purpose a special decoder is activated. When the sub-mode detector detects a second sub-mode indication value, this means that further user information is present at the location where the optional error protection information would have been, and the special decoder is not activated. |