An information transmission method with error correction for user words, an error correcting decoding method for such user words, an apparatus for information transmission for use with the method, a device for information decoding for use with the method and an apparatus for use with such device

Claim 2

An information transmission method with error correction for user words, said method comprising the steps of: a. dividing each user word into a first and a second multibit user symbol of mutually equal lengths; b. introducing a succession of first numbers of data symbols into a first Reed-Solomon encoder for adding to each first number a first series of parity symbols, wherein said data symbols are generated from said user symbols; c. interleaving the output symbols of the first encoder by means of respective different delay times over as many of second numbers of symbols as there are symbols in a said first number plus associated first series; d. encoding a second number of symbols in a second Reed-Solomon encoder for adding to each second number a second series of parity symbols, to produce a third number of code symbols; e. modulating said code symbols into channel symbols for introduction into a medium for later decoding; characterized in that said data symbols are generated by sector-wise adding to said user symbols a third series of parity symbols in a third Reed-Solomon encoder, and in that each sector (Figure 3a) after encoding consists of data symbols equal in number to those of an entire plurality of first numbers of data symbols.

Claim 3

A method as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that each user word is divided into a more significant user symbol and a less significant user symbol, and in that said sectors are organized in two planes in that a first plane of a sector receives the more signifi- sector cant user symbols of the sector and the second plane of said / receives the less significant user symbols of said sector, and in that said third Reed-Solomon encoder is separately operative in each of said two planes from the respective other plane.

Claim 4

A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said third series is organized into a first plurality of mutually exclusive first subseries and a second plurality of mutually exclusive second subseries, and in that each first subseries (P) is added to an exclusive first part of the user symbols of the sector in question with respect to all other first subseries, and in that each second subseries (Q) is added to an exclusive second part of the user symbols of the sector in question cum associated first subseries of parity symbols with respect to all other second subseries, and in that all symbols of a said first part are contained in mutually unique second parts, and vice versa.

Claim 5

A method as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that each subseries consists of two parity symbols.

Claim 7

A method as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that said error detection quantity is a CRC check quantity.

Claim 8

An error correcting decoding method for user words that have been encoded according to the method of Claim 1, said method comprising the steps of: a. receiving from a medium a sequence of channel symbols and therefrom by demodulation forming a sequence of third numbers of code symbols; b. decoding, and if applicable, correcting a third number of code symbols into the associated smaller second number of symbols in a first Reed-Solomon decoder associated to the second Reed-Solomon encoder; c. de-interleaving the output symbols of the first decoder by means of respective different delay times over as many fourth numbers of symbols as there are symbols in said second number, said second and fourth numbers having the same value; d. decoding, and if applicable, correcting a fourth number of symbols to the associated smaller first number of symbols in a second Reed-Solomon decoder associated to the first Reed-Solomon encoder; characterized in that an entire plurality of said first numbers of symbols are combined into a sector for decoding, and if applicable, correcting said plurality in a third Reed-Solomon decoder associated to the third Reed-Solomon encoder to therefrom produce an output member of user symbols that is smaller than the number of symbols in a sector by at least the number of said third series of parity symbols.

Claim 9

An error correcting method as claimed in Claim 7, characterized in that said user symbols are pair-wise combined into user words, in that each user word consists of a more significant user symbol and a less significant user symbol, in that said sectors are organized in two planes in that a first plane of a sector comprises the more significant user symbols of the sector, and the second plane comprises the less significant user symbols of the sector, and in that said third Reed-Solomon decoder is separately operative in each of said planes from the respective other plane.

Claim 10

A method as claimed in Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that said third series of parity symbols is organized into a first plurality of mutually exclusive first subseries and a second plurality of mutually exclusive second subseries, and in that each first subseries is added to an exclusive first part of the user symbols of the sector in question with respect to all other first subseries, and in that each second subseries is added to an exclusive second part of the user symbols of the sector in question cum associated first subseries of parity symbols with respect to all other subseries, in that all symbols of a said first part are contained in mutually unique second parts, and vice versa, and in that the third Reed-Solomon decoder is separately operative for each of said first and second parts from any respective other first and second part.

Claim 11

A method as claimed in Claim 9, characterized in that said first and second subseries each consist of two symbols and in that with respect to at least one first or second part at least one symbol is rendered correctable by the associated subseries.

Claim 13

An apparatus for information transmission with error correction according to the method claimed in Claim 1, said apparatus comprising: a. input means cum distributing means for receiving user words and distributing any received user word into two multibit user symbols of mutually equal lengths; b. a first Reed-Solomon encoder fed by said input means for receiving successive first nubmers of data symbols generated from said user symbols and having first matrix multiplication means for adding to each first number an associated first series of parity symbols; c. interleaving means fed by said first Reed-Solomon encoder and containing delay means for imparting respective different delay times to interleave a said first number and associated first series over as many second numbers of symbols as there are symbols in a said first number plus associated first series; d. a second Reed-Solomon encoder fed by said interleaving means for receiving successive second numbers of symbols and having second matrix multiplication means for adding to each second number an associated second series of parity symbols to produce a third number of code symbols; e. modulating means fed by said second Reed-Solomon encoder for modulating said code symbols into channel symbols for introduction into a medium for later decoding; characterized in that said input means furthermore comprise a Reed-Solomon encoder fed by said distributing means and having third matrix multiplication means for sector-wise adding to user symbols received a third series of parity symbols, and in that each sector after encoding consists of data symbols equal in number to those of an entire pluraltiy of first numbers of data symbols, for feeding to said first Reed-Solomon encoder.

Claim 14

An apparatus as claimed in Claim 12, characterized in that said distributing means have a first output for outputting a more significant user symbol of a user word, and a second output for outputting a less significant user symbol of a user word, in that said first and second outputs are connected to said third Reed-Solomon encoder for sector-wise entering said more significant user symbols therein to said third matrix multiplication means for multiplication thereby as separate from any less significant symbol in the same sector, and vice versa, thereby organizing said sector into two separate planes of more significant symbols and less significant symbols, respectively.

Claim 15

An apparatus as claimed in Claim 12 or 13, characterized in that said third Reed-Solomon encoder is provided with sequencing means for within a sector sequentially presenting mutually exclusive first parts of the user symbols of a sector to said third matrix multiplication means to therefore generating associated first subseries of parity symbols, and furthermore, for within a sector sequentially presenting mutually exclusive second parts of the user symbols cum associated first subseries to said third matrix multiplication means to therefore generating associated second subseries of parity symbols, and in that all symbols of any first part are contained in mutually unique second parts, and vice versa.

Claim 16

An apparatus as claimed in Claim 12, 13 or 14, characterized in that said third Reed-Solomon encoder is provided with a generator for an additional nultisymbol error detection quantity to be contained within a sector of data words.

Claim 17

An apparatus as claimed in Claim 15, characterized in that said generator is a CRC generator.

Claim 18

A device for information decoding with error correction according to the method claimed in Claim 7, said device comprising: a. input means connectable to a medium for therefrom receiving a sequence of channel symbols and containing demodulating means for demodulating each channel symbol into a code symbol to constitute a sequence of third numbers of code symbols; b. first decoding means fed by said input means for receiving a third number of code symbols and having fourth matrix multiplication means for generating to each third number an associated first syndrome symbol group for decoding and if applicable correcting the associated third number to output a second number of symbols smaller than said third number; c. de-interleaving means fed by said first decoding means and containing delay means for imparting respective different delay tines to de-interleave the second number of symbols received and distribute them over as many fourth numbers of symbols as there are symbols in said second number, said second and fourth numbers having the same value; d. second decoding means fed by said de-interleaving means for receiving a fourth number of symbols and having fifth matrix multiplication means for generating to each fourth number an associated second syndrome symbol group for decoding and, if applicable, correcting the associated fourth number to output the associated first number of symbols smaller than said fourth number; characterized in that third decoding means are provided, fed by said second decoding means and comprising a third Reed-Solomon decoder having sixth matrix multiplication means for generating further syndrome symbols for decoding and if applicable correcting a sector of data words consisting of an entire plurality of first numbers of data symbols to output user symbols on an output means of said third decoding means.

Claim 19

A device as claimed in Claim 17, characterized in that said output means comprise unifying means for reconstituting a user word from a more significant user symbol and less significant user symbol, and in that said sectors are organized into two planes, a first plane of a sector being decoded exclusively to more significant user symbols, and the second plane of a sector being decoded exclusively to less significant user symbols, and in that said third Reed-Solomon decoder is separately operative in each of said two planes from the respective other plane.

Claim 20

A device as claimed in Claim 17 or 18, characterized in that said third Reed-Solomon decoder is provided with second sequencing means for within a sector sequentially presenting mutually exclusive first parts of the user symbols of a sector cum an associated first subseries of parity symbols to said third Reed-Solomon decoder, and presenting mutually exclusive second parts of the user symbols and first subseries of a sector cum an associated second subseries of parity symbols to said third Reed-Solomon decoder; and in that said third Reed-Solomon decoder is separately operative for each of said first and second parts front any respective other first or second part.

Claim 21

A device as claimed in Claim 19, characterized in that each first and second subseries consist of two symbols and in that with respect to at least one first or second part said third Reed-Solomon decoder is operative for rendering correctable at least one symbol by means of the associated subseries.

Claim 22

A device as claimed in any of the Claim 17 through 20, characterized in that an additional checker is provided for checking a multisymbol error detector quantity within a sector, and in that an output of said checker is connected to a user device output for communicating an insufficient correction signalization.

Claim 23

A device as claimed in Claim 21, characterized in that said checker is a CRC checker.