Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for error correction code (“ECC”) striping. A memory receives sets of data in an original order. The memory stores the sets of data row by row in rows and columns such that user data in each row follows the original order. Each set of data is stored in a different row. An ECC data generator is coupled to the memory. The ECC data generator generates ECC data for each set of data in each row. The ECC data generator appends the generated ECC data to an end of each corresponding row. A modulator device is also coupled to the memory. The modulator device extracts the combined sets of data and ECC data in a striped order comprising a column by column order. A column comprises data from each row.

Abstract: A method is disclosed which decreases the amount of error correction code data required to detect and correct errors in digital data while still maintaining a specified ability to correct errors in large groups of contiguous data. The present invention accomplishes this by placing distance either in space or in time between bytes grouped mathematically for error correction code calculations. An error affecting contiguous bytes, like scratches or other defects in digital storage media, or certain types of interference in either wired or wireless digital communications, would affect many error correction code groups, but would only affect one byte from each group. The error can easily be corrected using only a one dimensional error correction code, removing the need for a two dimensional product error correction code and the additional data overhead that the column ECC data necessarily adds to the block.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data recovery technique for recovering unrecoverable data from a sector having a synchronization field damaged after formatting time or a synchronization mark that has been written improperly. The present invention may try conventional or traditional data recovery techniques first, but if these techniques are ineffective, these techniques can be bypassed in favor of an additional recovery mode. Based upon overall design parameters of a disk drive system and the recording medium format, the disk drive firmware estimates a synchronization mark starting position, analyzes the accuracy of that position and when re-synchronization has not yet occurred, the firmware makes iterative estimates within a window relative to the starting position, and analyzes these subsequent positions for accuracy as well. Once a synchronization mark is located, the data in the sector can be recovered.