Methods and apparatus for reproducing and decoding data recorded on a disk

Claim 2

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of track jumping comprises detecting an uncorrectable error in the first reproduced encoded data and initiating said track jump in response to the detection of such uncorrectable error.

Claim 3

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of track jumping comprises detecting a potential data overflow of said first buffer and initiating said track jump in response to the detection of said potential data overflow.

Claim 4

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of track jumping comprises detecting an abnormal sequence of sector numbers included in the first reproduced encoded data and initiating said track jump in response to the detection of the abnormal sequence of the detected sector numbers.

Claim 5

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of track jumping comprises determining whether a predetermined minimum quantity of error-corrected encoded data is stored in the first buffer as a precondition to a track jump.

Claim 6

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the track preceding the current track is arranged adjacent said current track on the disk (1).

Claim 7

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of reproducing encoded data to provide the first reproduced encoded data comprises reproducing the encoded data in a data reproduction sequence, the step of storing the first reproduced encoded data comprises storing the first reproduced encoded data in first write addresses in the first buffer selected in a data storage order corresponding with the data reproduction sequence, the step of reading the error-corrected encoded data comprises reading the first portion thereof from the first buffer in a first read sequence corresponding with the data storage order and from first read addresses each following a contemporaneous first write address, the step of reading a portion of the first reproduced encoded data comprises reading reproduced encoded data units each from at least one second read address of the first buffer following a contemporaneous first write address and preceding a contemporaneous first read address, and the step of storing the error-corrected encoded data comprises storing error-corrected encoded data units each in at least one second write address following an at least one second read address at which a data unit is contemporaneously read and preceding a contemporaneous first read address.

Claim 8

A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first buffer comprises a ring buffer memory.

Claim 9

A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the step of storing error-corrected encoded data units comprises storing each respective one of the error-corrected encoded data units at addresses of said first buffer from which a corresponding data unit was read and error-corrected to produce said each respective one of the error-corrected encoded data units.

Claim 10

A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the steps of storing the first reproduced encoded data in first write addresses and reading the first portion of the error-corrected encoded data from first read addresses comprise storing the first reproduced encoded data and reading the first portion of the error-corrected encoded data successively to numerically sequential first write addresses and from numerically sequential first read addresses, respectively.

Claim 11

A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the steps of reproducing encoded data to provide the first and second reproduced encoded data comprise reproducing the encoded data in data units each including primary data bits and error correction parity data bits, each of the error correction parity data bits of each data unit being produced as one of a plurality of error correction parity data bits each included in a respectively different data unit from a corresponding plurality of primary data bits each included in a respectively different data unit other than the data units including said plurality of parity data bits, each plurality of error correction parity data bits and corresponding plurality of primary data bits forming an error correction data unit, the step of reading at least a portion of the first and second reproduced encoded data comprises reading reproduced encoded data units from a plurality of second read addresses such that each of the reproduced encoded data units includes a corresponding error correction data unit, and the step of storing the error-corrected encoded data units comprises storing each of the error-corrected encoded data units in a plurality of second write addresses such that at least some of the plurality of second write addresses include uncorrected data.

Claim 12

A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of reproducing encoded data to provide the second reproduced encoded data comprises reproducing a sufficient amount of data corresponding with data included in said first portion of the error corrected encoded data to ensure that said second portion of the error-corrected encoded data may be read in said predetermined data order with said first portion of the error-corrected encoded data.

Claim 13

Apparatus for reproducing encoded data recorded in tracks in a predetermined data order according to a predetermined track sequence on a disk (1) and decoding the reproduced encoded data, the apparatus comprising: reproduction means (2) for reproducing encoded data from respective tracks on the disk (1); storage means (5) for storing the reproduced encoded data; track jump control means (7) for controlling the reproduction means (2) to track jump from a current track from which data is being reproduced thereby to a preceding track in said predetermined track sequence for reproducing data therefrom; error correction means (9) for correcting errors in the reproduced encoded data; decoder means (20) for decoding encoded data supplied thereto; and read/write control means (6) for writing encoded data reproduced from the current track and the preceding track prior to a track jump as first reproduced encoded data in said storage means (5) and writing encoded data reproduced from the preceding track after said track jump as second reproduced encoded data in said storage means (5); said read/write control means (6) being operative to read at least a portion of each of the first and second reproduced encoded data from the storage means (5) to the error correction means (9) and to write error-corrected first reproduced encoded data and error-corrected second reproduced encoded data in the storage means; said read/write control means (6) being further operative to read the error-corrected first and second reproduced encoded data from the storage means (5) to the decoder means (20) such that the error corrected first reproduced encoded data are read from the storage means in said predetermined order with said error corrected second reproduced encoded data.

Claim 14

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the track jump control means (7) is operative to detect an uncorrectable error in the reproduced encoded data and to control the reproducing means (2) to track jump in response to the detection of such uncorrectable error.

Claim 15

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the track jump control means (7) is operative to detect a potential data overflow of said storage means (5) and to control the reproducing means (2) to track jump in response to the detection of such potential data overflow.

Claim 16

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the track jump control means (7) is operative to detect an abnormal sequence of sector numbers in the reproduced encoded data and to control the reproducing means (2) to track jump in response to said detection of said abnormal sequence of sector numbers.

Claim 17

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the track jump control means (7) is operative to determine whether a predetermined minimum data quantity of error-corrected encoded data is stored in the storage means (5) as a precondition to a track jump.

Claim 18

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the track jump control means (7) is operative to control the reproducing means (2) to track jump from the current track to the next preceding track in said predetermined track sequence.

Claim 19

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the read/write control means (6) is operative to write the first reproduced encoded data at first write addresses in the storage means (5) selected in a data storage order corresponding with the predetermined data order; said read/write control means (6) being further operative to read the error-corrected first reproduced encoded data from the storage means (5) in a first read sequence corresponding with the data storage order and from first read addresses each following a contemporaneous first write address; said read/write control means (6) being further operative to read said at least a portion of the first reproduced encoded data from the storage means (5) to the error correction means (9) in data units each from at least one second read address of the storage means following a contemporaneous first write address and proceeding a contemporaneous first read address and to store the error-corrected first reproduced encoded data in error-corrected data units each in at least one second write address following an at least one second read address at which a data unit is contemporaneously read and preceding a contemporaneous first read address.

Claim 20

Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the storage means comprises a ring buffer memory.

Claim 21

Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the read/write control means (6) is operative to store each respective one of the error-corrected first reproduced encoded data units at addresses of the storage means (5) from which a corresponding unit of the first reproduced encoded data was read to the error correction means to produce said each respective one of the error-corrected first reproduced encoded data units.

Claim 22

Apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the read/write control means (6) is operative to write the first reproduced encoded data and read the error-corrected first reproduced encoded data from the storage means (5) successively to numerically sequential first write addresses and from numerically sequential first read addresses, respectively.

Claim 23

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said storage means (5) is operative to store an amount of the reproduced encoded data at least equal to the largest amount of encoded data stored in a single track of the disk.

Claim 24

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said storage means (5) is operative to store an amount of the error-corrected first and second reproduced encoded data at least equal to the largest amount of data stored in a single track of the disk.

Claim 25

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the reproduction means (2) is operative to reproduce encoded data from an optical disk.

Claim 26

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the reproduction means (2) is operative to reproduce encoded data from a magneto-optical disk.

Claim 27

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the reproduction means (2) is operative to reproduce encoded data from a magnetic disk.

Claim 28

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the decoder means (20) is operative to decode encoded picture data supplied thereto from the storage means (5).

Claim 29

Apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the decoder means (20) is operative to decode predictively encoded picture data supplied thereto from the storage means (5).

Claim 31

A method as claimed in claim 30, wherein the step of decoding the error-corrected encoded data comprises storing the error-corrected encoded data read from the first buffer in a second buffer, reading the error-corrected encoded data from the second buffer (10) and decoding the error-corrected encoded data read from the second buffer (10).

Claim 32

A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the step of producing a data request signal comprises supplying the data request signal from the second buffer (10).

Claim 33

A method as claimed in claim 30, wherein the step of reproducing the encoded data comprises reproducing encoded picture data from a disk, and the step of decoding the error-corrected encoded data comprises decoding error-corrected encoded picture data.

Claim 34

A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein the step of reproducing encoded picture data comprises reproducing predictively encoded picture data from the disk, and the step of decoding the error-corrected encoded picture data comprises decoding error-corrected predictively encoded picture data.

Claim 35

Apparatus for reproducing encoded data recorded on a disk and decoding the reproduced encoded data, the apparatus comprising: reproducing means (2) for reproducing the encoded data recorded on the disk (1); storage means (5) for storing the reproduced encoded data; error correction means (9) for correcting errors in the reproduced encoded data; decoder means (20) for decoding encoded data supplied thereto; and read/write control means (6) for controllably writing the reproduced encoded data in said storage means (5), reading the reproduced encoded data from the storage means to the error correction means (9) and writing error-corrected encoded data from the error correction means in the storage means (5); the decoder means (20) being operative to produce a data request signal representing a request by the decoder for provision of the error-corrected encoded data thereto for decoding; the read/write control means (6) being operative to read the error-corrected encoded data from the storage means (5) for supply to the decoder means (20) in response to the data request signal.

Claim 37

A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 36, wherein the or each step of reproducing encoded data comprises reproducing encoded picture data from said disk.

Claim 38

A method as claimed in claim 37, wherein the or each step of reproducing encoded data comprises reproducing predictively encoded picture data.

Claim 39

A method as claimed in claim 30 or 36, wherein the step of decoding the error-corrected encoded data comprises storing the error-corrected encoded data read from the first buffer (5) in a second buffer (10), reading the error-corrected encoded data from the second buffer and decoding the data read from the second buffer (10).

Claim 40

A method as claimed in claim 1, claim 30 or claim 36, wherein the or each step of reproducing the encoded data comprises reproducing encoded data from an optical disk.

Claim 41

A method as claimed in claim 1, claim 30 or claim 36, wherein the or each step of reproducing encoded data comprises reproducing encoded data from a magneto-optical disk.

Claim 42

A method as claimed in claim 1, claim 30 or claim 36, wherein the or each step of reproducing encoded data comprises reproducing encoded data from a magnetic disk.

Claim 43

Apparatus for reproducing encoded data recorded on a disk (1) and decoding the reproduced encoded data, the apparatus comprising: reproduction means (2) for reproducing the encoded data recorded on the disk (1); storage means (5) for storing the reproduced encoded data; error correction means (9) for correcting errors in the reproduced encoded data; decoder means (20) for decoding encoded data supplied thereto; and read/write control means (6) for controllably writing the reproduced encoded data in said storage means (5), reading the reproduced encoded data from the storage means to the error correction means (9), writing error-corrected encoded data from the error correction means in the storage means (5) and reading the error-corrected encoded data from the storage means (5) for supply to said decoder means (20) at a variable rate.

Claim 44

Apparatus as claimed in claim 43, wherein the read/write control means (6) is operative to read the error-corrected encoded data from the storage means (5) for supply to the decoder means (20) at a rate varying according to a variable data supply rate requirement of said decoder means.

Claim 45

Apparatus as claimed in claim 44, wherein the read/write control means (6) is operative to read the error-corrected encoded data from the storage means (5) for supply to the decoder means (20) at said rate varying according to said variable data rate requirement in response to a data request signal supplied by said decoder means.