Abstract: A data processing system and method providing error protection for data transmitted between a processor and a buffer in one data format and transmitted between the buffer and a user device in a different data format. An adaptor is interposed between the processor and the buffer for transmitting to the buffer (i) successive data segments in the one data format, each ending with appended check bytes in a preselected cyclic redundancy code (CRC); and (ii) check bytes using the same CRC appended at the end of each segment in the different data format to create in the buffer records which are a composite of both formats, but viewed as in the one data format by the processor and as in the different data format by the user device. The boundaries of the segments in each format must be known to the adaptor. Since both formats use the same CRC, CRC bytes for each segment in each data format will provide an identical preselected value in the absence of a detectable error.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for correcting multibyte errors in a magnetic medium on which data is recorded in variable length blocks that comprise subblocks of data bytes and corresponding check bytes and include error correction code (ECC) for which ECC syndromes are generated during reading. A sequence of N sequential parity check bytes is written at the end of each block. After ECC syndromes are generated during reading, parity syndromes are generated by comparing parity check bytes computed from data bytes and check bytes as read with the parity check bytes as written. When a long-burst error occurs, a pointer points to the first of the N consecutive bytes in a block that could have been influenced by the error burst. After correcting correctable errors in all subblocks not affected by the N bytes identified by the pointer, and adjusting the parity syndromes for errors thus corrected, the adjusted parity syndromes are used to correct the errors in the N bytes indicated by the pointer.

Abstract: Rate 8/9, constrained codes having run length limitation parameters (0, 4/4) and (0, 3/6) are provided for any partial response (PR) signalling system employing maximum likelihood (ML) detection.

Abstract: Apparatus for converting binary digital data from one form to another according to a variable word length code of fixed rate comprises word position indicating circuitry for indicating predetermined word position states of data in a data storage unit and conversion circuitry for sequentially converting a constant number of input bits at a time into the corresponding number of bits in said other form in dependence upon the contents of the data storage unit and the word position indication. The constant number of bits is less than the number of bits in the longest variable length word in the input data code form. The word position indicating circuitry either generates an updated function representing the current position of the word boundary in the data storage unit or recognizes the boundary from distinctive word ending patterns in the data storage unit.