Data Frame Syncmark Detection with ECC-First Decoding

The patent applies preliminary action by performing ECC encoding on the syncmark before transmission. The encoder processes the syncmark along with padding bits and data, generating parity bits that enable error detection and correction. At the receiver, ECC decoding is performed before syncmark detection, correcting transmission errors in advance so that the syncmark can be reliably identified even with errors. This preliminary error correction action eliminates the need for a longer syncmark while maintaining detection reliability.

The patent inverts the conventional order of operations by performing ECC decoding before syncmark detection instead of after. In the conventional approach, the receiver first detects the syncmark to locate data start, then performs ECC decoding. This inversion allows the ECC decoder to correct transmission errors in the received signal before the syncmark detection process, ensuring that the syncmark is identified from corrected data. This prevents the propagation of errors that would occur if syncmark detection were performed on uncorrected erroneous data.