Generator for an error correcting code, a decoder therefore, and a method for the same

A decoder for decoding a product code of the type which is formed from a predetermined amount of data, to which an error detecting code for such predetermined amount of data has been added and which is arranged in a rectangular array of rows and columns, and error correcting codes which are generated for the predetermined amount of data in the row and column directions, said decoder comprising:

• (a) correcting means for correcting said possible errors in said predetermined amount of data and said error detecting code by using said product code;
• (b) means for ending the error correction processing of said possible errors by said error correcting means in response to a data request signal supplied from an outside source;
• (c) error detecting means, which when supplied with said data request signal, receives the predetermined amount of error corrected data from said error correcting means and checks for possible errors in said predetermined amount of error corrected data by using said error detecting code;
• and
• (d) means for outputting said predetermined amount of error checked data when no errors are detected by said error detecting means.

A method for generating an error correcting code for correcting possible errors in a predetermined amount of digital data attached to an error detecting code for detecting the possible errors in said predetermined amount of data, comprising the steps of:

• (a) segmenting said predetermined amount of data into respective blocks of a predetermined data length;
• (b) sequentially supplying said data blocks;
• (c) sequentially generating an error correcting code corresponding to each of said supplied data blocks;
• (d) receiving said data blocks sequentialy and generating an error detecting code in response to the supply of a last data block;
• and
• (e) generating an error correcting code corresponding to said last data block and said error detecting code, including the step of adding the data lengths of said last data block and said error detecting code to thereby form a data length of one block.

A method for decoding a product code of the type which is formed from a predetemined amount of data, to which an error detecting code for such predetermined amount of data has been added and which is arranged in a rectangular array of rows and columns, and error correcting codes which are generated for the predetermined amount of data in the row and column directions, comprising the steps of:

• (a) correcting said possible errors in said predetermined amount of data and said error detecting code by using said product code;
• (b) ending the error correction process in response to a data request signal supplied from an outside source;
• (c) error-checking, when said data request signal arrives, by using said error detecting code attached to said error corrected predetermined amount of data;
• (d) outputting said predetermined amount of error corrected data when no error is detected.

Apparatus for generating a product code comprising:

• (a) means for receiving a predetermined amount of data and for segmenting said predetermined amount of data into blocks of predetermined data length and for sequentially supplying said data blocks;
• (b) means sequentially supplied with said data blocks from the receiving means for generating an error detecting code for detecting possible errors in said predetermined amount of data, said error detecting code being generated from said predetermined amount of data, and for adding the error detecting code to the predetermined amount of data so as to form a rectangular array of data having rows which are one data block in length;
• (c) means for generating a series of separate, first error correcting codes from corresponding blocks of data in each of the row directions of said rectangular array and adding each of said first error correcting codes to its corresponding block of data in each row direction;
• and
• (d) means for generating a series of separate, second error correcting codes from corresponding blocks of data in each of the column directions of said rectangular array and adding each of said second error correcting codes to its corresponding block of data in each column direction.