Method and apparatus to reproduce data with an improved data error correction capability

An apparatus to record and/or reproduce data onto and/or from an optical recording medium, the apparatus comprising:

• a wobble signal detector to detect a wobble signal from the optical recording medium;
• a wobble channel state predictor to predict a wobble channel state from the detected wobble signal;
• an information signal detector to detect an information signal from the optical recording medium;
• and
• an information channel state predictor to predict an information channel state from the detected information signal,
• wherein, if a damaged section is discovered from the optical recording medium, the information signal detector decodes the information signal based on the information on the wobble channel state or the information on the information channel state.

A method of improving data error correction capability during data reproducing operations in which the data is reproduced from an optical recording medium, the method comprising:

• detecting a wobble signal, including information on a wobble channel state of the data, from a light beam reflected from the optical recording medium;
• detecting an information signal, including information on the information channel state of the data, from the light beam reflected from the optical recording medium;
• and
• if a damaged section is discovered from the optical recording medium, decoding the information signal based on the information on the wobble channel state or the information on the information channel state.

An apparatus to record and/or reproduce data onto and/or from an optical recording medium, the apparatus comprising:

• a wobble signal detector to detect a wobble signal, including information on a wobble channel state, from the optical recording medium;
• an information signal detector to detect an information signal, including information on an information channel state, from the optical recording medium;
• and
• wherein, if a damaged section is discovered from the optical recording medium, the information signal detector decodes the information signal based on the information on the wobble channel state or the information on the information channel state.