FAST DECODE CHARACTER ERROR DETECTION AND CORRECTION SYSTEM

摘要

Apparatus for detecting and correcting errors in a digital computer storage system is disclosed. Data is encoded using a generalized Reed-Solomon encoder. Error detection circuitry including power sum calculating devices are used for detection of data in error. The error correction portion of the invention includes an improved decoding scheme for determining the location and magnitudes of errors within the data and has a very low average correction time. Means are provided for determining the starting area of a data block in the presence of errors in the starting area. Further means are provided for detecting a cyclic shift in a data character which, under normal conditions, would appear as an acceptable code word even though in error.