Error Correction Device and Method for Correcting a Data Block

An error correction device, comprising data processing circuitry configured to:

• receive a data block to be corrected;
• represent the data block as a matrix having a first set of vectors and a second set of vectors, the first set of vectors being the row vectors and the second set the column vectors or the first set of vectors being the column vectors and the second set the row vectors of the matrix, such that each entry of the matrix is contained in a vector of the first set as a component of the vector and in a vector of the second set as a component of the vector which corresponds to the component of the vector of the first set;
• and
• apply a first error correction and error detection method in accordance with a predefined first code to the first set of vectors, wherein the first code is a code which makes it possible to detect vectors having a number of errors that is above a maximum number as erroneous but uncorrectable vectors, but only to correct vectors having a number of errors that is at most equal to the maximum number of errors;
• and
• apply a second error correction and error detection method in accordance with a predefined second code to at least one portion of the second set of vectors, wherein, if it is established that an error correction of a vector of the second set of vectors has the effect that the first error correction and error detection method, for a vector of the first set of vectors that it has detected as an erroneous but uncorrectable vector, indicates that the number of errors is less than the maximum number, the error correction of the vector of the second set of vectors is revoked.