Abstract: The invention relates to method of encoding address words (a) comprising address symbols (a0, a1, . . . ak?1) into codewords (c) of a code (C) for providing an enhanced error correction capability if at least one information symbol (m1) of information words (m) is known a priori to a decoder decoding received, possibly mutilated codewords (r). The invention relates further to a method of decoding possibly mutilated codewords (r).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for error correction encoding a datastream of information into blocks of error correction encoded information. An input terminal receives the datastream. An error correction encoding unit performs an error correction encoding on portions of the datastream. A block of error correction encoded information includes n sync blocks, each sync block including a sync word and a portion of the error correction encoded information, where n exceeds 3. An output terminal supplies the blocks of error correction encoded information. The error correction encoding unit supplies one of m mutually different sync words to each n sync block, such that the sequence of two sync words of corresponding two sync blocks of the n sync blocks is unique with respect to the bit patterns within the two sync words, m satisfying 2<m<n.

Abstract: The invention relates to method of encoding address words (a) comprising address symbols (a0, a1, . . . , ak−1) into codewords (c) of a code (C) for providing an enhanced error correction capability if at least one information symbol (m1) of information words (m) is known a priori to a decoder decoding received, possibly mutilated codewords (r). The invention relates further to a method of decoding possibly mutilated codewords (r).