Abstract: A magnetic disk storage device employing an on-the-fly, multiple burst error correction system for detecting and correcting errors in data sectors stored on a magnetic disk, wherein each data sector comprises a data field and multiple sync marks for synchronizing to the data field. Multiple sync marks improve the probability of successful byte synchronization to the data field in the presence of noise in the system, such as defects in the storage medium. Further, a sync mark may be embedded within the data field to facilitate byte resynchronization when synchronization is lost.

Abstract: An error correction system (1000) included in a utilization device (1002) operates upon a plurality of sectors (S) stored in a data buffer (1100) for performing write-from-host and read-from-device operations. Overlapping and asynchronous operational steps are performed with respect to the plurality of sectors, the operational steps including sector transfer into buffer, sector correction, and sector transfer out of buffer. The error correction system (1000) includes a plurality of subsystems which are supervised and sequenced by correction controller (1020). The subsystems include a CRC generation and checking subsystem (1030); an LBA subsystem (1040); an ECC/Syndrome Generator subsystem (1050); a header (ID) subsystem (1060); a correction subsystem (1070); and, a correction checker system (1075).