Digital data recording and reproducing apparatus with reliable error correcting coding and decoding

A digital data recording and reproducing apparatus for recording input data composed of a sequence of data words, each data word being composed of a plurality of symbols, onto a plurality of continuous tracks on a recording medium and for reproducing the recorded input data from the recording medium, said apparatus comprising:

• a data formatting means for forming, from the sequence of data words of the input data, a first data block which is composed of a first plurality of data words and a second data block which is composed of a second plurality of data words;
• a first memory for storing therein the first and second plurality of data words in the first and second data blocks;
• a first error correction coding means for performing a first error correction coding for the first plurality of data words in the first data block stored in said first memory to obtain a plurality of first parity code words and for storing the plurality of first parity code words into said first memory;
• a second error correction coding means for performing a second error correction coding for the first and second plurality of data words in the first and second data blocks and the plurality of first parity code words stored in said first memory to obtain a plurality of second parity code words and for storing the plurality of second parity code words into said first memory:
• a third error correction coding means for performing a third error correction coding for each of the first and second plurality of data words in the first and second data blocks, the plurality of first parity code words, and the plurality of second parity code words stored in said first memory to obtain a plurality of third parity code words and for outputting the first and second plurality of data words in the first and second data blocks, the plurality of first, second, and third parity code words;
• recording means for recording the first and second plurality of data words and the plurality of first, second, and third parity code words outputted from said third error correction coding means on a predetermined number of continuous tracks on the recording medium such that the first and second plurality of data words in the first and second data blocks are distributed to a first predetermined recording area of each track of the predetermined number of continuous tracks and that the plurality of first parity code words are distributed to a second predetermined recording area of each track of the predetermined number of continuous tracks;
• reproducing means for reproducing, from the recording medium, the recorded first and second plurality of data words and the plurality of first, second, and third parity code words;
• a second memory for recording therein the reproduced first and second plurality of data words and the plurality of first, second, and third parity code words;
• a first error correction decoding means for error correction decoding each of the first and second plurality of data words in the first and second data blocks and the plurality of first and second parity code words stored in said second memory by using the plurality of third parity code words stored in said second memory and for storing the decoded first and second plurality of data words and the decoded plurality of first and second parity code words into said second memory;
• a second error correction decoding means for error correction decoding the first and second plurality of data words in the first and second data blocks and the plurality of first parity code words stored in said second memory by using the plurality of second parity code words stored in said second memory and for storing the decoded first and second plurality of data words and the decoded plurality of first parity code words into said second memory;
• a third error correction decoding means for error correction decoding the first plurality of data words in the first data block stored in said second memory by using the plurality of first parity code words stored in said second memory to obtain a decoded first data block and a decoded second data block;
• and
• deformatting means for deformatting the decoded first and second data blocks into a sequence of decoded data words;
• wherein said formatting means forms the first data block from M1.times.N1.times.L symbols of the input data and the second data block from C1.times.N1.times.L symbols, where each of M1, N1, L and C1 is a natural number, said first error correction coding means performs the first error correction coding by means of a (M1+M2, M1) code, where M2 is a natural number, said second error correction coding means performs the second error correction coding by means of a (M1+C1+M2+M3, M1+C1+M2) code, where M3 is a natural number, said third error correction coding means performs the third error correction coding by means of a (N1+N2, N1) code, where N2 is a natural number, said first error correction decoding means performs an error correction decoding by means of a (N1+N2, N1) code, said second error correction decoding means Performs an error correction decoding by means of a (M1+C1+M2+M3, M1+C1+M2) code, and said third error correction coding means performs an error correction coding by means of a (M1+M2, M1) code.

A digital data recording and reproducing apparatus for recording input data composed of a sequence of data words, each data word being composed of a plurality of symbols, onto a plurality of continuous tracks on a recording medium and for reproducing the recorded input data from the recording medium, said apparatus comprising:

• a data formatting means for forming, from the sequence of data words of the input data, a first data block which is composed of a first plurality of data words and a second data block which is composed of a second plurality of data words;
• a first memory for storing therein the first and second plurality of data words in the first and second data blocks;
• a first error correction coding means for performing a first error correction coding for the first and second plurality of data words in the first and second data blocks stored in, said first memory to obtain a plurality of first parity code words and for storing the plurality of first parity code words into said first memory;
• a second error correction coding means for performing a second error correction coding for the first and second plurality of data words in the first and second data blocks and the plurality of first parity code words stored in said first memory to obtain a plurality of second parity code words and for storing the plurality of second parity code words into said first memory;
• a third error correction coding means for performing a third error correction coding for each of the first and second plurality of data words in the first and second data blocks, the plurality of first parity code words, and the plurality of second parity code words stored in said first memory to obtain a plurality of third parity code words and for outputting the first and second plurality of data words in the first and second data blocks, and the plurality of first, second, and third parity code words;
• recording means for recording the first and second plurality of data words and the plurality of first, second, and third parity code words outputted from said third error correction coding means on a predetermined number of continuous tracks on the recording medium such that the first and second plurality of data words in the first and second data blocks are distributed to a first predetermined recording area of each track of the predetermined number of continuous tracks and that the plurality of first parity code words are distributed to a second predetermined recording area of each track of the predetermined number of continuous tracks;
• reproducing means for reproducing from the recording medium, the recorded first and second plurality of data words and the plurality of first, second, and third parity code words;
• a second memory for recording therein the reproduced first and second plurality of data words and the plurality of first, second, and third parity code words;
• a first error correction decoding means for error correction decoding each of the first and second plurality of data words in the first and second data blocks and the plurality of first and second parity code words stored in said second memory by using the plurality of third parity code words stored in said second memory and for storing the decoded first and second plurality of data words and the decoded plurality of first and second parity code words into said second memory;
• a second error correction decoding means for error correction decoding the first and second plurality of data words in the first and second data blocks and the plurality of first parity code words stored in said second memory by using the plurality of second parity code words stored in said second memory and for storing the decoded first and second plurality of data words and the decoded plurality of first parity code words into said second memory;
• a third error correction decoding means for error correction decoding the first and second plurality of data words in the first and second data blocks stored in said second memory by using the plurality of first parity code words stored in said second memory to obtain a decoded first data block and a decoded second data block;
• and
• deformatting means for deformatting the decoded first and second data blocks into a sequence of decoded data words;
• wherein said formatting means forms the first data block from M1.times.N1.times.L symbols of the input data and the second data block from C1.times.N1.times.L symbols, where each of M1, N1, L and C1 is a natural number, said first error correction coding means performs the first error correction coding by means of a (M1+C1+M2, M1+C1) code, where M2 is a natural number, said second error correction coding means performs the second error correction coding by means of a (M1+C1+M2+M3, M1+C1+M2) code, where M3 is a natural number, said third error correction coding means performs the third error correction coding by means of a (N1+N2, N1) code, where N2 is a natural number, said first error correction decoding means performs an error correction decoding by means of a (N1+N2, N1) code, said second error correction decoding means performs an error correction decoding by means of a (M1+C1+M2+M3, M1+C1+M2) code, and said third error correction coding means performs an error correction coding by means of a (M1+C1+M2, M1+C1) code.

A digital data recording and reproducing apparatus for recording input data composed of a sequence of data words, each data word being composed of a plurality of symbols, onto a plurality of continuous tracks on a recording medium and for reproducing the recorded input data from the recording medium, said apparatus comprising:

• a data formatting means for forming, from the sequence of data words of the input data, a first data block which is composed of a first plurality of data words, a second data block which is composed of a second plurality of data words, and a third data block which is composed of a third plurality of data words;
• a first memory for storing therein the first, second, and third plurality of data words in the first, second, and third data blocks;
• a first error correction coding means for performing a first error correction coding for the first and second plurality of data words in the first and second data blocks stored in said first memory to obtain a plurality of first parity code words and for storing the plurality of first parity code words into said first memory;
• a second error correction coding means for performing a second error correction coding for the first and third plurality of data words in the first and third data blocks and the plurality of first parity code words stored in said first memory to obtain a plurality of second parity code words and for storing the plurality of second parity code words into said first memory;
• a third error correction coding means for performing a third error correction coding for the second plurality of data words in the second data block stored in said first memory to obtain a plurality of third parity code words and for storing the plurality of third parity-lode words into said first memory;
• a fourth error correction coding means for performing a fourth error correction coding for each of the first, second, and third plurality of data words in the first, second, and third data blocks, the plurality of first parity code words, the plurality of second parity code words, and the plurality of third parity code words stored in said first memory to obtain a plurality of fourth parity code words and for outputting the first, second, and third plurality of data words in the first, second, and third data blocks and the plurality of first, second, third, and fourth parity code words;
• recording means for recording the first, second, and third plurality of data words and the plurality of first, second, third, and fourth parity code words outputted from the fourth error correction coding means on a predetermined number of continuous tracks on the recording medium such that the first, second, and third plurality of data words in the first, second, and third data blocks are distributed to a first predetermined recording area of each track of the predetermined number of continuous tracks and that the plurality of first parity code words are distributed to a second predetermined recording area of each track of the predetermined number of continuous tracks;
• reproducing means for reproducing from the recording medium, the recorded first, second, and third plurality of data words and the plurality of first, second, third, and fourth parity code words;
• a second memory for recording therein the reproduced first, second and third plurality of data words and the plurality of first, second, third, and fourth parity code words;
• a first error correction decoding means for error correction decoding each of the first, second, and third plurality of data words in the first, second and third data blocks and the plurality of first, second and third parity code words stored in said second memory by using the plurality of fourth parity code words stored in said second memory and for storing the decoded first, second, and third plurality of data words and the decoded plurality of first, first, second, and third parity code words into said second memory;
• a second error correction decoding means for error correction decoding the first and third plurality of data words in the first and third data blocks and the plurality of first parity code words stored in the second memory by using the plurality of second parity code words stored in said second memory and for storing the decoded first and third plurality of data words and the decoded plurality of first parity code words into said second memory;
• a third error correction decoding means for error correction decoding the second plurality of data words in the second data block stored in said second memory by using the plurality of third parity code words stored in said second memory and for storing the decoded second plurality of data words into said second memory;
• a fourth error correction decoding means for error correction decoding the first and second plurality of data words in the first and second data blocks stored in said second memory by using the plurality of first parity code words stored in said second memory and for storing the first and second plurality of decoded data words into said second memory;
• and
• deformatting means for deformatting the decoded first, second, and third data blocks stored in said second memory into a sequence of decoded data words;
• wherein said formatting means forms the first data block from M1.times.N1.times.L symbols of the input data, the second data block from D1.times.N1.times.L symbols, and the third data block from C1.times.N1.times.L symbols, where each of M1, N1, L, D1 and C1 is a natural number, said first error correction coding means performs the first error correction coding by means of a (M1+D1+M2, M1+D1) code, where M2 is a natural number, said second error correction coding means performs the second error correction coding by means of a (M1+C1+M2+M3, M1+C1+M2) code, where M3 is a natural number, said third error correction coding means performs the third error correction coding by means of a (D1+D2, D1) code, where D2 is a natural number, said fourth error correction coding means performs the fourth error correction coding by means of a (N1+N2, N1) code, where N2 is a natural number, said first error correction decoding means performs an error correction decoding by means of a (N1+N2, N1) code, said second error correction decoding means performs an error correction decoding by means of a (M1+C1+M2+M3, M1+C1+M2) code, said third error correction decoding means performs an error correction decoding by means of a (D1+D2, D1) code, and said fourth error correction coding means performs an error correction coding by means of a (M1+D1+M2, M1+D1) code.

A digital data recording and reproducing apparatus for recording input data composed of a sequence of data words, each data word being composed of a plurality of symbols, onto a plurality of continuous tracks on a recording medium and for reproducing the recorded input data from the recording medium, said apparatus comprising:

• a data formatting means for forming, from the sequence of data words of the input data, a first data block which is composed of a first plurality of data words, a second data block which is composed of a second plurality of data words, and a third data block which is composed of a third plurality of data words;
• a first memory for storing therein the first, second, and third plurality of data words in the first, second, and third data blocks;
• a first error correction coding means for performing a first error correction coding for the first, second, and third plurality of data words in the first, second, and third data blocks stored in said first memory to obtain a plurality of first parity code words and for storing the plurality of first parity code words into said first memory;
• a second error correction coding means for performing a second error correction coding for the first and third plurality of data words in the first and third data blocks and the plurality of first parity code words stored in said first memory to obtain a plurality of second parity code words and for storing the plurality of second parity code words into said first memory;
• a third error correction coding means for performing a third error correction coding for the second plurality of data words in the second data blocks stored in said first memory to obtain a plurality of third parity code words and for storing the plurality of third parity code words into said first memory;
• a fourth error correction coding means for performing a fourth error correction coding for each of the first, second, and third plurality of data words in the first, second, and third data blocks, the plurality of first parity code words, the plurality of second parity code words, and the plurality of third parity code words stored in said first memory to obtain a plurality of fourth parity code words and for outputting the first, second, and third plurality of data words in the first, second, and third data blocks and the plurality of first, second, third, and fourth parity code words;
• recording means for recording the first, second, and third plurality of data words and the plurality of first, second, third, and fourth parity code words outputted from the fourth error correction coding means on a predetermined number of continuous tracks on the recording medium such that the first, second, and third plurality of data words in the first, second, and third data blocks are distributed to a first predetermined recording area of each track of the predetermined number of continuous tracks and that the plurality of first parity code words are distributed to a second predetermined recording area of each track of the predetermined number of continuous tracks;
• reproducing means for reproducing from the recording medium, the recorded first, second, and third plurality of data words and the plurality of first, second, third, and fourth parity code words;
• a second memory for recording therein the reproduced first, second and third plurality of data words and the plurality of first, second, third, and fourth parity code words;
• a first error correction decoding means for error correction decoding each of the first, second, and third plurality of data words in the first, second and third data blocks and the plurality of first, second and third parity code words stored in said second memory by using the plurality of fourth parity code words stored in said second memory and for storing the decoded first, second, and third plurality of data words and the decoded plurality of first, second, and third parity code words into said second memory;
• a second error correction decoding means for error correction decoding the first and third plurality of data words in the first and third data blocks and the plurality of first parity code words stored in the second memory by using the plurality of second parity code words stored in said second memory and for storing the decoded first and third plurality of data words and the decoded plurality of first parity code words into said second memory;
• a third error correction decoding means for error correction decoding the second plurality of data words in the second data block stored in said second memory by using the plurality of third parity code words stored in said second memory and for storing the decoded second plurality of data words into said second memory;
• a fourth error correction decoding means for error correction decoding the third plurality of data words in the third data block stored in said second memory by using the plurality of first parity code words stored in said second memory and for storing the decoded third plurality of data words into said second memory;
• and
• deformatting means for deformatting the decoded first, second, and third data blocks stored in said second memory into a sequence of decoded data words;
• wherein said formatting means forms the first data block from M1.times.N1.times.L symbols of the input data, the second data block from D1.times.N1.times.L symbols, and the third data block from C1.times.N1.times.L symbols, where each of M1, N1, L, D1 and C1 is a natural number, said first error correction coding means perform the first error correction coding by means of a (C1+M1+D1+M2, C1+M1+D1) code, where M2 is a natural number, said second error correction coding means performs the second error correction coding by means of a (M1+C1+M2+M3, M1+C1+M2) code, where M3 is a natural number, said third error correction coding means performs the third error correction coding by means of a (D1+D2, D1) code, where D2 is a natural number, said fourth error correction coding means performs the fourth error correction coding by means of a (N1+N2, N1) code, where N2 is a natural number, said first error correction decoding means perform an error correction decoding by means of a (N1+N2, N1) code, said second error correction decoding means performs an error correction decoding by means of a (M1+C1+M2+M3, M1+C1+M2) code, said third error correction decoding means performs an error correction decoding by means of a (D1+D2, D1) code, and said fourth error correction coding means performs an error correction coding by means of a (C1+M1+D1+M2, C1+M1+D1) code.