An apparatus for correcting and detecting multiple spotty-byte errors within a byte occurred in a limited number of bytes and which has a function capable of controlling multiple spotty-byte errors within a byte occurred in the limited number of bytes, is provided.
The apparatus for correcting and detecting multiple spotty-byte errors within a byte occurred in a limited number of bytes, comprises an encoding means for generating a transmitted word based on input information data; and a decoding means for inputting the transmitted word where errors occurred in an information transmission channel as a received word and correcting and detecting the errors. The encoding means generates the transmitted word by adding check information generated based on a parity check matrix expressing a spotty-byte error control code and the input information data to the input information data. The decoding means comprises a syndrome generating means for generating a syndrome of the received word based on the parity check matrix; and an error correction means for correcting and detecting the errors in the received word based on the syndrome generated by the syndrome generating means.