Patent ID: 6631492
Filing Date: 2003-10-07
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
An error correction method for multi-track data recording and read out of recorded multi-track digital data, comprising the steps of:a) organizing input digital data into a sequence of data words; b) encoding each data word as a fixed-length transverse error correcting code word having a fixed number of symbols which represent digital data and parity; c) recording each transverse error correcting code word onto a plurality of longitudinal data tracks on a recording medium with no more than two code symbols from each code word recorded on each track; d) reading recorded transverse error correcting code words by a plurality of readout transducers, with at least one transducer for each data track, that reproduce the code word symbols of each transverse error correcting code word from the plurality of longitudinal data tracks; and e) processing the transverse error correcting code words to recover the data words and identify and correct symbol errors caused by media defects or transducer failures by using the error correcting parity.