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Patent 1152597 Summary

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Claims and Abstract availability

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(12) Patent: (11) CA 1152597
(21) Application Number: 1152597
(54) English Title: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING ERRORS IN PCM SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS
(54) French Title: METHODE ET APPAREIL POUR PREVENIR LES ERREURS DANS LES APPAREILS DE TRAITEMENT DE SIGNAUX MIC
Status: Term Expired - Post Grant
Bibliographic Data
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):
  • G06F 11/00 (2006.01)
  • G11B 20/18 (2006.01)
  • G11B 27/032 (2006.01)
(72) Inventors :
  • ODAKA, KENTAROU (Japan)
(73) Owners :
  • SONY CORPORATION
(71) Applicants :
  • SONY CORPORATION (Japan)
(74) Agent: GOWLING WLG (CANADA) LLP
(74) Associate agent:
(45) Issued: 1983-08-23
(22) Filed Date: 1981-01-23
Availability of licence: N/A
Dedicated to the Public: N/A
(25) Language of filing: English

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): No

(30) Application Priority Data:
Application No. Country/Territory Date
7197/80 (Japan) 1980-01-24

Abstracts

English Abstract


METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR P _V NTING ERRORS IN PCM SIGNAL
PR~CESSING APPARATUS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A technique is disclosed-for preventing errors in
a PCM error-correction decoder of the type supplied with
successive transmission blocks, each comprised of time-
interleaved PCM,error-correction and error detection
words, wherein the transmission blocks are selectively
supplied from first and second data sources such that an
error interval is produced as a function of the transition
period during which the selection of the data sources is
changed over from one to the other. According to this
technique, the presence of an error in a supplied
transmission block is detected, and each of the time-
interleaved words included in that transmission block
is identified as being erroneous. The transmission
block is time de-interleaved to recover a de-interleavec
block comprised of de-interleaved PCM and error-correcti
words. An erroneous PCM word in the de-interleaved block
is corrected as a function of the remaining non-erroneous
PCM and error-correction words in that de-interleaved
block. However, the correction of a PCM word is inhibited
if the block in which that word is disposed contains at
least one word derived from the first data source and
another word derived from the second data source.


Claims

Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A method of preve:nting errors in a PCM error-
correction decoder of the type supplied with successive
transmission blocks, each comprised of time-interleaved PCM,
error-correction and error detection words, wherein said
transmission blocks are supplied from one data source and
then from a different data source to produce an error
interval determined by the transition period from said
one source to said different source, said method comprising
the steps of detecting if a supplied transmission block
contains an error; identifying as being erroneous each of
the time-interleaved words included in the supplied trans-
mission block which has been detected as containing an error,
time de-interleaving each supplied transmission block to
recover a de-interleaved block comprised of de-interleaved
PCM and error-correction words; correcting an erroneous PCM
word in said de-interleaved block as a function of the remain-
ing non-erroneous PCM and error-correction words in that de- -
interleaved block; and inhibiting the correction of a PCM
word in a de-interleaved block if said block contains at
least one word derived from said one data source and
another word derived from said different data source.
2. The method of Claim 1 wherein said step of cor-
recting an erroneous PCM word includes generating a syndrome
from said PCM and error-correction words in said de-interleaved
block; and wherein said step of inhibiting the correction of a
PCM word comprises sensing if said syndrom differs from a
predetermined value r sensing the absence of an erroneous word
in said de-in~erleaved block, and producing an inhibit signal

of predetermined duration in response to the sensed absence
of an erroneous word when said syndrome differs from said
predetermined value to inhibit the correction of PCM words
for the duration of said inhibit signal.
3. The method of Claim 2 wherein each de-interleaved
block is comprised of two PCM words and one error-correction
word; and wherein said predetermined duration of said inhibit
signal is equal to the time interval occupied by two successive
de-interleaved blocks.
4. The method of Claim 1 wherein each de-interleaved
block is comprised of _ PCM words and two error-correction
words such that two erroneous PCM words in said de-interleaved
block are correctable as a function of the remaining non-
erroneous PCM words and the non-erroneous two error-correction
words.
5. The method of Claim 4 wherein said step of
inhibiting the correction of a PCM word comprises generating
a syndrome from said PCM words and a predetermined one of
said error-correction words; sensing if said syndrome differs
from a predetermined value; sensing the absence of any
erroneous words in said de-interleaved block; and producing
an inhibit signal of a duration substantially equal to the time
interval occupied by a predetermined number of successive
de-interleaved blocks in response to the sensed absence of any
erroneous words when said syndrome differs from said pre-
determined value.
- 6. The method of Claim 1 w~herein said step of
inhibiting the correction of a PCM word comprises counting
the number of successive transmission blocks which contain
errors; detecting if said count exceeds a predetermined
value; designating an error-correction word in at least -the
next-supplied transmission block as being erroneous, whereby
~'.1

at least two words in a de-interleaved block containing
words derived ~rom said one and said different data sources
are identified as being erroneous; and inhibiting the cor-
rection of a PCM word contained in a de-interleaved block
having at least two erroneous words therein.
7. The method of Clalm 6 wherein said step of
time de-interleaving each supplied transmission block
comprises delaying each word contained in said supplied
transmission block by a respectively different time delay, the
minimum difference between two respective time delays being
equal to D, wherein D is the time period occupied by a pre-
determined number of successive transmission blocks, said
predetermined value being at least equal to said predetermined.
number.
8. The method of Claim 4 wherein said step of
time de-interleaving each supplied transmission block
comprises delaying each word contained in said suppl.ied
transmission block by a respectively different time delay,
the minimum difference between two respective time delays
being equal to the time period occupied by a predetermined
number of successive transmission blocks; and wherein said
step of inhibiting the correction of a PCM word comprises
counting the number of successive transmission blocks which
contain errors, detecting if said count exceeds said-predeter-
mined number, designating an error correction word in each
of the next m transmission blocks as being erroneous (m = the
number of transmission blocks supplied during the largest of
said time delays), whereby at least three words in a de- -
interleaved block containing words derived from said one and
said different data sources are identified as being erroneous,
$~

and inhibitina the correction of a PCM word contained in a
de-interleaved block having at least three erroneous words
therein.
9. The method of Claim 4 wherein said step of time
de-interleaving each supplied transmission block comprises
delaying each word contained in said supplied transmission
block by a respectively different time delay, the minimum
difference between two respective time delays being equal to
the time period occupied by a predetermined number of
successive transmission blocks; and wherein said step of
inhibiting the correction of a PCM word comprises counting
the number of successive transmission blocks which contain
errors, detecting if said count exceeds said predetermined
number, designating all of the words in the next-supplied
transmission block as being erroneous, whereby at least three
words in a de-interleaved block containing words derived
from said one and said different data sources are identified
as being erroneous, and inhibiting the correction of a PCM
word containined in a de-interleaved block having at least
three erroneous words therein.
10. PCM signal processing apparatus adapted to
receive successive transmission blocks, each comprised of
tlme-interleaved PCM, error-correction and error detection
words, from either of first or second selectable data sources,
wherein an error interval is established during the transition
périod that the selection of data sources is changed over
from one to the other, said apparatus comprising detecting
means responsive to said error detection words for detecting
if a received transmission block contains an error; error

identifyin~ means for identifying as being erroneous each of
the time-interleaved words included in the received transmission
block which has been detected as containing an error; de-
interleaving means for time de-interleaving each received
transmission block to recover a de-interleaved block
comprised of de-interleaved PCM and error-correction
words, erroneous ones of said de-interleaved words being
respectively identified; error correcting means coupled to
said de-interleaving means for correcting an erroneous PCM
word in said de-interleaved block as a function of the remain-
ing non-erroneous PCM and error-correction words in that de-
interleaved block; and inhibit means for inhibiting said
error correcting means if the de-interleaved block supplied
thereto contains at least one word derived from said first
data source and another word derived from said second data
source.
11. The apparatus of Claim 10 wherein said error
correcting means includes syndrome generating means for
generating a syndrome from said PCM and error-correction
words in said de-interleaved block; and wherein said inhibit
means comprises means for producing a syndrome signal if
said syndrome differs from a predetermined value, means
coupled to sai.d de-interleaving means for producing a no-error
signal if none of the words in said de-interleaved block are
erroneous, and means for producing an inhibit signal of pre-
determined furation in response to the concurrence of said
syndrome and no-error signals, whereby the operation of said
error correcting means is inhibited for the duration of said
inhibit signal.

12. The apparatus of Claim 11 wherein said error
identifying means produces a respective error signal asso-
ciated with each PCM and error-correction word in a received
transmission block that has been detected as being erroneous,
the respective error signals remaining associated wi-th the
de-interleaved PCM and error-correction words; and wherein
said means for producing a no-error signal comprises coincidence
means supplied ~1ith the error signals associated with the
PCM and error-correction words of each de-interleaved block
to detect the absence of error signals associated with said
words.
13. The apparatus of Claim 12 wherein said
coincidence means comprises a NOR gate.
14. The apparatus of Claim 12 wherein said means
for producing an inhibit signal comprises AND gate means
coupled to receive said syndrome signal and said no-error
signal; and pulse generating means coupled to the output
of said AND gate means.
15. The apparatus of Claim 14 wherein each de-
interleaved block is comprised of two PCM words and one
error-correction word; and wherein said pulse generating
means includes monostable multivibrator means having a time
constant equal to the time interval occupied by two successive
de-interleaved blocks.
16. The apparatus of Claim 11 wherein each de-
interleaved block includes two error-correction words:
wherein said syndrome generating means generates a syndrome
from said PCM words and a predetermined one of said error-
correction words, and wherein said means for producing an

inhibit signal produces said inhibit si~nal of a duration
substantially equal to the time interval occupied by a
predetermined number of successive de-interleaved b~ocks.
17. The apparatus of Claim 10 wherein said error
correcting means does not operate if two or more words in
a de-interleaved block supplied thereto are identified as
being erroneous; and wherein said inhibit means comprises
counting means for counting the number oE successive
transmission blocks which contain errors; means for detecting
if said count exceeds a predetermined value; and error
designating means for designating an error-correction word
in at least the next received transmission block as being
erroneous, whereby at least two words in a de-interleaved
block -that contains words which are derived from said first
and second data sources are identified as being erroneous.
18. The apparatus of Claim 17 wherein said de-
interleaving means comprises plural delay means, each having a
respectively different time delay and each delaying a respec-
tive word contained in said received transmission block,
the minimum difference between two respective time delays
being equal to D, wherein D is the time period occupied by
a predetermined number of successive transmission blocks; and
wherein said predetermined value is at least equal to said
predetermined number.
19. The apparatus of Claim 18 wherein D is the
time period occupied by two successive transmission blocks.
~'~

20. The apparatus of Claim 10 wherein said error
correcting means does not operate if three or more words
in a de-interleaved block supplied thereto are identified
as being erroneous; and wherein said inhibit means comprises
counting means for counting the number of successive
transmission blocks which contain errors; means for detect-
ing if said count exceeds a predetermined value; and error
designating means for designating an error-correction word
in a predetermined number of the next received transmission
blocks as being erroneous, whereby at least three words in
each de-interleaved block that contains words which are
derived from said first and second data sources are identi-
fied as being erroneous.
21. PCM signal processing apparatus adapted to
receive successive transmission blocks, each comprised of
time-interleaved P~M, error-correction and error detection
words, from either of first or second selectable data sources,
wherein an error interval is established during the transition
period that the selection of data sources is changed over from
one to the other, said apparatus comprising detecting means
responsive to said error detection words for detecting if a re-
ceived transmission block contains an error; error identifying
means for identifying as being erroneous each of the time-interleav
words included in the received transmission block which has been
detected as containing an error; de-interleaving means~for time
de-interleaving each received transmission block to recover a de-
interleaved block comprised of de-interleaved PCM and error-correc-t
words, erroneous ones of said de-interleaved words being respectivo
~7

identified; error correcting means coupled to said de-inter-
leaving means and operative to correct an erroneous PCM
word in said de-interleaved block as a function of the
remaining PCM and error-correction words in that de-inter-
leaved block, provided that the total number of erroneous
words in that block is less than a predetermined amount;
syndrome generating means for generating a syndrome from
said PCM and error-correction words in said de-interleaved
block; means for producing a syndrome signal if said syndrome
differs from a predetermined value; means coupled to said
de-interleaving means for producing a no-error signal if none
of the words in said de-interleaved block are erroneous;
means for supplying an inhibit signal of predetermined
duration to said error correcting means in response to the
concurrence of said syndrome and no-error signals, whereby
the operation of said error correcting means is inhibited
for the duration of said inhibit signal; counting means for
counting the number of successive transmission blocks which
contain errors; means for detecting if said count exceeds a pre-
determined value representing a predetermined duration of said err?
interval; and error designating means for designating an
error-correction word in a predetermined number of the next
received transmission blocks as being erroneous, whereby the
number of words identified as erroneous in each de-interleaved
block that contains words which are derived from said first
and second data source is at least equal to said predeter-
mined amount.
68

Description

Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
_
This inventidn relates to a method and apparatus
for preventing errors in PCM signal processing apparatus
and, more particularly, to such a method and apparatus
which is particularly adapted for use with PCM signal
processing apparatus which receives PCM signals in a time-
interleaved error-correction code from either of two different
data sources.
Recently, digital techniques have been used for
the transmission and recording of audio signals. For
example, a rotary-head type video tape recorder (VTR~,
having a high recording density, can be used to record
pulse code modulated (PCM) signals representing audio infor-
mation. However, when a PCM-encoded signal is recorded and
subsequently reproduced, the possiblity exists that noise,
interference, signal droptout, and the like may be present
so as to destroy some of the reproduced PCM signals. Such
loss of data may result in serious errors in the reproduced
signal so as to interfere with satisfactory audio reproduc-
tion.
In order to minimize this problem of signal loss,error-correction codes have been proposed for use in
encoding the PCM signals prior to recording or transmission.
By using such error-correction codes, erroneous PCM signals
which are reproduced o~ received may be corrected or compen-
sated so as to avoid the aforenoted interference in audio
reproduction.

5~
One advantageous error-correction code which has
been proposed for such PCM signals is the so-called time-
i~terleaved code, some examples of which are de cribed in
copending application Serial ~lo. 338,114, filed October 22,
1979, and in copending application Serial No. 361,558,
filed October 3, 1980, both assigned to the assignee of
- the present invention. Generally, in the.time-interleaved
- error-correction code, plural c~annels of~PCM signals are
produced, each channel being constituted by a sequence,
or series, of successive PCM words. These plural channels
may be derived from an analog-to-digital c~nverter which is
used to digitize an input analog audio signal, such as a
stereophonic signal. A data block is formed of one word
in each channel, which words, typically, appear in parallel-
by-word format. These parallel-appearing words are used to
derive one or more error-correction words, such as parity
words. Then, each PCM word in the data block, as well as
the error-correction word (or words) is delayed by a respec-
- tively dif~erent time délay so as to effectively time-interleave
- 20 the PCM and error correction words. These time-interleaved
words, which are present in parallel-by-word form, are
supplied, concurrently, to an error-detection word generator,
such as a cyclic redundancy code (CRC) generator so as to
produce an error detection word. This error detection
25 word is combined with the time-interleaved PCM and error-
correction words so as to form a time-interleaved transmis-
- sion block. The time-interleaved transmission b~ock then
may be recorded, transmitted, or otherwise utilized.

When the time-interleaved transmission block is
reproduced, or received, the various interleaved words,
together with the error-detection word, are examined to
determine if an error is present in this particular trans-
mission block. Error detection codes, such as the CRC code,are weli-known for providing this error-detection feature.
If an error is detected in this transmission block, all
of the interleaved PCM and error-correction words are
identified as being erroneous, irrespective of whether
each such word is, in fact, in error or correct. Then,
these time-interleaved, identified, PCM and error-correction
words are time de-interleaved so as to reconstruct the
original data block. If a de-interleaved PCM word is
identified as being erroneous, it can be corrected, by
conventional error-correction techniques~ such as hy
parity decoding, provided that none of the other words
included in the same block are erroneous. If the recon-
structed, de-interleaved block includes two error-correction
words, then two erroneous PCM words included in that de-
interleaved block can be corrected. The foregoing techniquesare described more particularly in the aforementioned,
copending applications.
By using the aforementioned time-interleaved
encoding technique, effects due to a so-called burst
error are minimized. The expression "burst error" generally
refers to an error interval, wherein recorded or transmitted
data is dropped ou-t, that extends over a period of time

sufficient to encompass a plurality of time-interleaved
transmission blocks. However, even if all of the PCM
and error-correction words included in a number of
time-interleaved transmission blocks are dis-torted,
upon reconstructing the original, de-in-terleaved trans-
mission blocks, it is expected that, generally, only one
word in the reconstructed block is distorted. That i5,
the time-interleaved encoding technique serves to disperse
a burst error throughout many reconstructed blocks. Then,
since only a single word in a reconstructed, de-interleaved
block is erroneous, sueh errors may be correeted or compen-
sated by conventional error-correction or compensation
techniques.
It is advantageous to utilize PCM signal processing
apparatus including the aforementioned time-interleaved
eneoder/deeoder as an adapter to be quickly and simply
eonneeted to a VTR sueh that a conventional VTR may be used
to record PCM-eneoded audio signals. It also is advantageous
to use this type of eneoder/deeoder to reeeive PCM signals
from various sourees. For example, the PCM deeoder may be
eonneeted through a switehing arrangement either to the
playbaek seetion of a VTR or to the output of a PCM eneoder.
Depending upon the eondition of the switeh, time-interleaved
transmission bloeks are supplied to the decoder from one
(the VTR) or the other (the PCM eneoder) data souree. Of
eourse, since the time-interleaved transmission blocks
supplied by both sourees exhibit the same format, the decoder
functions to deeode the received transmission blocks,

regardless of the particular source f rom which they are
transmitted, and to recons-truct the original audio signals.
In many instances, it may be desirable b~ the user of the
apparatus to change over from one source (e. g. the VTR)
to the other. During the transition interval, which
exists for a finite time, the decoder effectively is
supplied with erroneous transmission blocks. When these
erroneous transmission blocks are time de-interleaved,
in accordance with the usual procedure, a number of
lQ de-interleaved blocks, commenclng with the first de-interleaved
block at the beginning of the transition interval, contain
some PCM and/or error-correction words derived from one
source and other PCM and/or error-correction words derived
from the other. Furthermore, one or more of the words
included in such de-interleaved blocks are erroneous because
they have been de-interleaved from those transmission blocks
which were supplied during the transition interval. Never-
theless, if one of these PCM words in the de-interleaved
block is erroneous, the error-corrector of the decoder will
attempt to operate in its usual manner to correct this
erroneous PCM word. However, it is possible that the
erroneous word may be derived from one source whereas other
words included in this de-interleaved block are derived from
the other source. Typically, the error-correction operation
attempts to reconstruct the erroneous PCM word by utilizing
the error-correction word in conjunction with the remaining
non~erroneous PCM words. If all of these words are derived
from the same data source, there is no difficulty in reconstructin~

the correct PCM word. However, when some o~ the words are
derived from one source and others are derived from the
other source, there is no correlation therebetween, and
the erroneous word cannot be reconstructed.
When the time-interleaved encoder/decoder of the
aforementioned type is used in the example just described,
the error-corrector therein attempts to "correct" the
erroneous PCM word, even though such a "correction" cannot
be carried out. As a result thereof, the "corrected"
word is in error and, when converted back to analog form
and reproduced by, for example, a loudspeaker, results in
an undesired sound. This sound is disturbing and, preferably,
should be avoided.
While the aforementioned undesired noise can be
muted merely by carrying out a conventional muting operation
whenever a change-over operation is carried out from one
data source to another, this requires sensing the change-over
opera-tion. An additional, special connection must be made
to, for example, the VTR, in order to derive a control
signal therefrom whioh can be used to control the- muting
operation. Since such a control signal normally is not
provided, this would require a special reconstruction of the
- VTR, which is not desired. Moreover, the production of a
muting control signal frustrates the attempt to provide the
PCM encoder/decoder as a mere "adapter", without special
connections.
BJECTS OF THE_NVENTION
- Therefore, it is an object of the present invention
to provide an improved method and apparatus for processing a

PCM signal so as to avoid the production of an undesired
sound when that apparatus is supplied with da-ta tha-t is
changed over from one data source to another.
Ano-ther object of this,invention is to provide
improved PCM signal processing apparatus which can/ for
example, be connected to a VTR as a simple adapter, without
special connections thereto and without requiring the derivation
of special control signals, so as to enable'the VTR to be
used as a PCM recorder.
A further object of this invention is to provide
an improved method and apparatus for controlling an error-
corrector in PCM signal processing apparatus so as to avoid
erroneous operation of that error corrector when the PCM
signal processing apparatus is supplied with PCM data that
is changed over from one source to another.
An additional object of this invention is to provide
improved PCM signal processing apparatus which is used with
PCM data that is encoded in a time-interleaved error-correction
format.
Various other objects, advantages and features of
the present invention will become readily apparent from the
ensuing detailed description, and the novel features wil'l be
particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVEN TI ON
In accordance with this invention,,a technique is
provided for preventing errors in a PCM error-correction
- - decoder'of-the type supplied with successive transmission
blocks, each comprised of time-interleaved PCM, error-correction
.

and error detection words, wherein the transmission blocks
are supplied from a first data source and then a second
data source to produce an error interval determined by
the transition period from the Eirst to the second source.
In accordancè with the technique of the instant invention,
the presence of an error in a supplied transmission block
is detected, and each of the time-interleaved words included
in that transmission block is identified as being erroneous.
Each transmission block is time de-interleaved to recover
a de-interleaved block comprised of de-interleaved PCM
and error correction words. An erroneous PCM word in the
de-interleaved block is corrected as a function of the
remaining non-erroneous PCM and error-correction words in
that block. The correction of a PCM word in a de-interleaved
block is inhibited if that block contains at least one word
derived from the first data source and another word derived
from the second data source. Thus, if the PCM words represent
audio information, the production of an undesired sound due to an
erroneous "correction" of the aforementioned PCM word is avoided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAW NGS
The following detailed description, given by way of
example, will best be understood in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which:
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram of PCr~ signal processing
apparatus in which the present invention finds ready applica-
tion;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a typical time interleave
encoder which can be used in the apparatus shown in FIG. l;

s~
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a typical de-interleave
decoder which can be used with the apparatus of FIG. l;
FIGS. 4A-4C are schematic timing diagrams which
are useful in unders-tanding the operation of the time
interleave encoder;
FIGS. 5A-5E are timing diagrams which are useful
in understanding the operation of the time de-interleave
decoder;
FIG. 6 is a partial block, partial logic diagram
of one embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 7A-7D are waveform diagrams of various
signals produced by elements of the apparatus shown in
FIG. 6;
FIGS. 8A-8E are timing diagrams which are useful
in understanding one mode of operation of the apparatus
shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of another encoder which
can be used with the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a block diagram of another time de-interleave
decoder which can be used with the present invention;
FIGS. llA and lls are useful in understanding the
operation of the encoder shown in FIG. 9;
FIGS. 12A-12F are timing diagrams which are used to
explain the operation of the decoder shown in FIG. 10; and
FIGS. 13A-13C are timing diagrams which are used
to explain another operation of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 10.

i;259~
DETAILED DE _ RIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS___ _ _ _ _
Referring now to the drawinas, and in particular
to FIG. 1, there is illustrated one embodiment of PCM
signal processing apparatus 2 which can be used in
conjunction with, for example, a video tape recorder (VTR) 1
so as to supply PCM-encoded audio signals to the VTR for
recording and to receive reproduced PCM-encoded signals
so as to generate corresponding audio sounds therefrom.
VTR 1 may be of the helical scan type having, for example,
two rotary heads (not shown) which record signals in
parallel, skewed tracks along a magnetic tape, as is
conventional. The VTR includes a record section 4, having
suitable recording electronics, servo control systems,
and the like, for controlling the recording of signals
in the aforementioned tracks. VTR 1 also includes a
playback section 5, including playback electronics,
servo control systems, and the like, which operate to
reproduce the signals that are recorded in the aforementioned
tracks. Record section 4 is coupled to a record input
terminal 3, the latter normally being sup~lied with typical
video signals of the type which include periodic horizontal
synchronizing signals, vertical synchronizing signals and
video information signals. As is recognized, such a
composite telèvision signal includes high frequency components.
Playback section 5 is coupled to a playback output
terminal 8 such that, when VTR 1 is utilized in a video
signal playback mode, composite television signals are
reproduced from the magnetic tape and supplied to output
--10--

~25~
terminal 8. Usually, output terminal 8 is coupled to a
television receiver, or monitor, to display video pictures
corresponding to the reproduced video signal5.
VrlR 1 also is provided with a change-over switch 6
having fixed contacts 7a and 7b and a movable contact 7c
selectively engageable with either of its fixed contacts.
Movable contact 7c is coupled to output terminal 8 so as
to supply to this output terminal the signals which are
applied either to fixed contact 7a or to fixed contact 7b.
As illustrated, fixed contact 7a is coupled to the output
of playback section S and fixed contact 7b is coupled to
input terminal 3. When change-over switch 6 is disposed
in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, the signals
which are reproduced by playback section 5 are supplied
from contact 7a through movable contact 7c to output
terminal 8. When switch 6 is changed over such that
contact 7c engages fixed contact 7b, the signals normally
supplied to record section 4 also are supplied to output
terminal 8. Although illustrated herein as an electro-
mechanical switch, it should be appreciated that change-over
switch 6 may be an electronic switch such that its transition
interval, that is, the interval during which movable contact 7c
changes over between fixed contacts 7a and 7b, is relatively
brief.
PCM signal processing apparatus 2 is coupled to
terminals 3 and 8 of ~TR 1 and functions as an adapter
thereto. The PCU sianal processing apparatus includes an
--11--

s~
encoding section to produce an encoded PCM signal, the
output of this encoding sec-tion being coupled -to input .
terminal 3 via a PCM output terminal 9. PCM signal
processing a~aratus 2 also includes a decoder section,
this decoder section having a PCM input terminal lO
coupled to VTR output terminal 8. The purpose o~ the PCM sig-
nal processing apparatus is to encode an input analog
signal, such as an audio signal, in PCM error-correction
format, and to supply this PCM-encoded signal to VTR l for
recording. As mentioned above, the VTR is adapted to
record video signals which exhibit relatively higher
frequencies. Furthermore, as is known, VTR's generally
exhibit favorably high recording densities. Consequently,
VTR l is particularly useful for recording PCM-encoded
audio information.
When playback section 5 of VTR 1 reproduces the
PCM-encoded au~io information, the PCM-encoded signals are
supplied via VT~ output terminal 8 to PCM input terminal lO,
such.that the decoding section of PCM signal processing
apparatus 2 decodes these recovered pcrll signals, and
re-converts the decoded signals back to audio analog form.
The encoding section of PCM signal processing
apparatus 2 includes an analog input terminal ll, adapted
to receive an input analog si~nal, such as an audio signal,
this input terminal ll being coupled to an analog-to-digital
(A/D) conver:ter 13, an encoder 14 and an amplifier 15,
all connected in series, as illustrated. The output of

~52~317
amplifier 15 is coupled to PCM output terminal 9. A/D con-
- verter 13 is adapted to sample the analog audio signal
supplied to audio input terminal 11 and to produce a
corresponding multi-bit digital word corresponding thereto.
Typically, this multi-bit digital word is a pulse code
modulated (PCM) word. As one example thereof, each PCM
word produced by A/D converter 13 is comprised of fourteen
data bits.
If the input audio signal supplied to audio
input terminal 11 is a stereophonic signal comprised of
left-channel and right-channel signals, A/D converter 13
generates PCM words representing each sample of the left-
channel and the right-channel signals. Although A/D con-
verter 13 i5- shown in block form, it may be comprised of
separate left-channel and right-channel filters, sample-and-hold
circuits and analog-to-digital converters, such as described
in aforementioned copending application Serial No. 86,677.
The output of A/D converter 13 is supplied to encoder 14
which functions to convert the PCM data supplied thereto
into an~error-correction format and, moreover, to carry out
a time-base compression operation so as to for~ "empty" or
blank periods in the data stream into which are inserted
various video synchronizing signals, such as periodic
horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals. Encoder 14
thus serves to encode the PCM data in, for example, a time-
interleaved error-correction Eormat and, by inserting the
aforementioned video synchronizing signals thereinto, to
produce a simulated video signal. This simulated video signal
-13-

~L~5~g7
is am~lified by ampli~ier 15 and supplied, via PCM output
terminal S and VTP~ input terminal 3, to record section 4
of VTR 1.
VTR 1 serves to record the PCM signals, which
are encoded in er~or-correction format, and which include
- the various video synchronizing signals. It is appreciated
that the VTR electronics interprets these encoded PCM
signals as simulated video signals. ~Jpon reproduction,
these simulated video signals are supplied from playback
section 5 through VTR output.terminal 8 and PCM input
terminal 10 to the decoding sectlon of PCM signal processing
apparatus 2. This decoding section is comprised of a
synchronizing signal separator circuit 16, a decoder 17
and a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter 1~, all connected
in series, as illustrated. Synchronizing signal separator
circuit 16 serves to separate the video synchronizing signals,
i. e., the horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals,
which had been inserted into the encoded PCM signals for
recording. Thus, decoder 17~ is supplied with encoded
PCM signals having "empty" or blank data periods thereln,
these blank periods co.rresponding to the separated synchronizing
signals.
Decoder 17 is compatibIe ~ith encoder 14 and operates
-to time-base e~pand.the encoded PCM signals back to.their
original time base;~and, moreover,~decoder 17 serves to
recover the original PCM signals from the error-correction
code. As will be descrlbed herein, encoder 14 functions to
encode the PCM signals in the so-called time-interleaved format.

~S~
Hence, decoder 17 functions to time de-interleave -these PCM
signals. Furthermore, decoder :L7 includes error correction
and error compensation circuitry so as to correct errors
that might be present in the recovered PCM-signals, such
as errors which may be due to dropout, noise, interference
and the like. If such errors cannot be corrected, then
an approximation of the erroneous PCM signal is produced
by the error compensation circuitry, and this approximation
is ~sed to replace the erroneous PCM signal. Decoder 17
thus serves to reconstruct the original P~M signals which
had been supplied to encoder 14 by A/D converter 13.
These reconstructed PCM signals are supplied to
D/A converter 18 wherein they are re-converted back to their
original analog audio signal level. For example, D/A
converter 18 may re-convert the corrected/compensated
PCM signals back to the original stereophonic left-channel
and right-channel audio signals. These audio signals are
supplied to audio output terminal 12, from which they are
amplified in an audio amplifier 19 and used to drlve
loudspeaker 20 so as to reproduce audio sounds.
It may be seen that, by recordina the original
audio signals as digital signals, high fidelity and accurate
repro~uction of the oriainal sianals is obtained from
speaker 20. Furthermore, since PCM signal processing
apparatus 2 is connected merely to the usual VTR input
and output terminals 3 and 8, apparatus 2 is provided
merely as a simple adapter for the VTR. Special connections
-15-

~5g7
need not be made to the VTR; nor need special control signals
be o~tained therefrom in order to control or synchronize the
operations of the VTR and the PCM si~nal processing apparatus.
When VTR 1 is used to record the encoded PCM data,
the reproduced PCM signals are supplied from playback section 5
to PCM input terminal ~ when change-over switch 6 exhibits the
- configuration lllustrated in FIG. 1. When this change-over
- switch is operated so as to engage movable contact 7c with
fixed contact 7b, the encoded PCM signals produced at the
PCM output terminal 9 are supplied to PCM input terminal 10.
In this manner, speaker 20 may be used to monitor the PCM-
encoded audio information which is being recorded by the
record section of the VTR.
The present invention is directed to various features
of PCM signal processing apparatus 2. Although this apparatus
is illustrated as being used in conjunction with a VTR 1,
it should be readily appreciated that, if desired, the PCM
slgnal processing apparatus may be used with other devices
such as data transmitters r data receivers, and-the like.
Furthermorei and as will become ap~arent from the detailed
discussion beIow, change-over switch 6 may be used to
supply encoded PCM signals to the decoding section of PCM
signal processing apparatus 2 either from a first or a second
da~a source.~ In the application shown in FIG. 1, the first
data source is comprised of VTR playback section 5; and the
; second data source is comprised of the encoder section included
in the PCM signal processing apparatus. However, and as will
be seen, other data sources may be used to supply encoded
'
-16-

~L5~i~7
PCM data to the decoder section of PCM signal processing
- apparatus 2.
One embodiment of a portion of encoder 14 is
lllustrated in FIG. 2. This illustrated embodiment is
adapted to encode the PCM signa:ls supplied from A/D con-
verter 13 into the time-interleaved, error-correction
format. That portion of encoder 14 which-serves to
time-compress the encoded PCM signals and to insert
video synchronizing signals into blank perlods produced
thereby, is not shown. Nevertheless, the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 2 is referred to herein merely as
the encoder.
The encoder shown in FIG. 2 is comPrised of a
- distributor 22~ an error-correction word aenera-tar 23.
time-delav circuits 24a and 24b. a mixer 25 and an
error detection code aenerator 26. Distributor 22 is
cou~led to an in~ut terminal 21 and is ada~ted to receive
successive PCM words which ma~. for examvle, be supplied
thereto bv A/D converter 13 in serial-bY-word form. Each
word mav be comprised of a pluralitv of serial or parallel
bits, such as fourteen bits. Distributor 22 functions as
a demultiplexer to separate, or distribute, the single
channel~of successive PCM words supplied thereto into
separate parallel channels referred to as the left-channel
and the right-channel. Each channel thus is provided with
a sequence, or series, of PCM words associated with left-
channel and right-channel audio information, respectively.
In FIG. 2, the sequence, or series, of left-channel PCM words
is shown as left-channel SL, and the sequence, or series,
-l7-

~LS;~S97
of right-channel PCM words is shown as the righ-t-channel SR.
It will be explained below that successive data blocks are
produced at the output of distributor 22 in successive time
periods, these periods being referred to as transmission
block periods, each being equal to the time period occupied
by a transmission block. A transmission block, for the encoder
shown in FIG. 2j is comprised of a left-channel word Li and
a right-channel word Ri, both words being produced concurrently
at the output of the distributor.
Left-channel SL and right-channel SR are coupled to
error-correction word generator 23. As one example thereof,
the error-correction word generator is a parity word generator
and is adapted to sum the left-channel and right-channel PCM
words Li and Ri provided in a data block at the output of
distributor 22 in modulo 2 form. Thus, parity word generator 23
may comprise a conventional modulo 2 adder. The function of
parity generator 23 is to generate a sequence, or series,
of parity words SP, each parity word Pi beina produced in
response to the modulo 2 addition of the left-channel and
right-channel PCM words such that Pi = Li ~3 Ri. The resultant
parity word Pi is seen to have the same number of bi-ts
(e. g. fourteen bits) as each of the left-channel and right-
channel PCM words, and each parity word Pi is particularly
related to the PCM words Li and Ri from which it is derived.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the
parity word Pi may be used to reconstruct an erroneous PCM
word, provided that the parity word and the other PCM word
are correct. For example, if, during transmission, recording,
-18-

~52~91'7
reproduction and reception of the data block comprised o~ the
PCM words Li and Ri and the parity word Pi, an error is
presenk in PCM word Li, the correct version of PCM word Li
may, nevertheless, ~e recovered as a function of the non-
erroneous PCM word Ri and the non-erroneous parity word Pi
in the recovered data block. Such error correction techniques
are known to those of ordinary skill in thè art and, in the
interest of brevity, are not further described.
The PCM and parity words which constitute each
data block are selectlvely time-delayed by time delay
- circuits 24a and 24b. In particular, the right-channel
series SR and the parity series SP are supplied to time
delay circuits 24a and 24b, respectively. The left-channel
series SL is not supplied to a delay circuit in the embodiment
15 -shown in FIG.~2. Stated otherwise, this left-channel series
is delayed by an amount corresponding to zero time delay.
Time delay circuit 24a delays the right-channel series SR
by a predetermined amount D; and time delay circuit 24b
delays the parity series SP by a greater-amount 2D. D is
a time period equàl to two transmission block intervals,
wherein a transmission block interYal is equal to the time
interval occupied by a transmission block. A transmission
block is similar to a data block, except that the particular
- words which constitute the tran-smission block are formed of
the respectively-delayed PCM and parity words. That is,
the transmission block is comprlsed of time-interleaved PCM
and parity words. It is appreciated that time delay circuits 24a
and 24b serve to time-interleave the respective words.
--

1~2~
For example, and as will be described further below, if
the fourth data block is supplied to the time delay cir- ~
cuits, this fourth data block being comprised of PCM words L4
and R4 and parity word P4, the transmission block then
produced by the time delay circuits, that is, the time-
interleaved transmission block comprised of time-interleaved
words, may be represented as PCM words L4 and R2 and parity
word P0.
In FIG. 2, the resultant time-interleaved transmission
-10 block is comprised of the sequence, or series, of non-delayed
left-channel PCM words SL, the delayed sequence, or series,
of right-channel PCM words prcduced at the output of time
delay circuit 24a, and identified as the delayed right-channel
series SRll, and the delayed sequence, or series, of parity
words produced at the output of time delay circuit 24b, -this
delayed parity series being identified as SPl. Of course,
in any given transmission block, th~e PCM and parity words
included therein may be identified as ~i' Ri D and Pi 2D.
The interleaved PCM and parity words.included in
each transmission block are supplied to error detection
code generator 2~6. In one embodiment thereof, this error
de-tection code generator is a cyclic redundancy code (CRC)
generator. The use of error detecting codes, and particularly
the CRC code, to detect the presence of one or more errors
in a block of data words is well known. For exa~ple, the
PCM and parity words included in a transmission block, and
supplied to CRC generator 26, may be expressed as a polynomiai
over a Galois field, this polynomial being divided by a genera-
tion polynomial to obtain a remainder which is added to the
-20-

~3 5Z597
transmission block as a CRC code word. That is, the CRC
code word, together with the PCkl and parity words, con-
stitute the time-interleaved transmission block. During
reproduction, when this transmission block is reproduced,
a polynomial is formed of the reproduced PCM, parity and
CRC words, and this polynomial is divided by the same
generation polynomial which was used in the CRC generator.
If no remainder is obtained by this division, then it is
concluded that the reproduced transmission block does not
contain any error. However, if a remainder is produced,
then the transmission block contains at least one error.
As will be described below, when an error is detected in
the reproduced transmission block, a "pointer" or error
flag associated with each PCM and parity word is set,
thereby identifying each such word in the reproduced
transmission block as being erroneous.
CRC generator 26 generates a sequence, or series,
of error detection words, this error-detection series being
identified as SC. It may be appreciated that a PCM word
included in the left-channel series SL, together with a
PCM word included in the delayed right-channel series SRll,
together with a parity word included in the delayed parity
series SPl, together with a word included in the error-
detection serles SC all appear concurrently. As shown in
FIG. 2, these words, which exhibit a time-interleaved
relationship with each other, constitute a transmission
- block and are supplied to mixer 25. The mixer functions
as a multiplexer to serialize the words which are supplied
thoreto in parallel form. -The output of mixer 25 is coupled
-2~-

to an output terminal 27 to supply successive transmission
blocks thereto in serial form. If desired, the time
occupied by a serialized time-interleaved transmission
block produced by mixer 25 may be equal to a transmission
block interval. This is attained if mixer 25 is supplied
with a read-out clock signal of a frequency four times the
- frequency at which each 4-word transmission block is
applied thereto.
The serialized transmission blocks provided at
output terminal 27 may be supplied to a synchronizing
mixer circuit (not shown) which serves to insert the usual
video synchronizing signals into the stream of transmission
blocks. Mixer 25 may operate to carry out a time-base
compression of the transmission blocks applied thereto so
lS as to provide blank periods into which the video synchronizing
signals are inserted. The circuitry which can`be used to
carry out such a time-base compression is well known to
those of ordinary skill in the art.
FIG. 4A represents successive data blocks formed
of parallel PCM words Li and Ri and parity word Pi. For
example, at time to~ the data block formed of [LoRoPo]
is produced, at time tl the data block [LlRlPl] is produced,
at time t2 the data block [L2R2P2] is produced, and so on.
Time delay circuits 24a and 24b impart selective delays of
D and 2D to the right-channel PCM word and to the parity
word, respectively. FIG. 4B represents the transmission
block which is formed by this time-interleaving of the
respective words. FIG. 4B also illustrates the CRC code word C

~5Z~97
which is produced by CRC generator 26 in response to the
PCM and parlty words of each transmission block. Thus,
at time to~ the time-interleaved transmis6ion bloc~ [LoR 2P 4Co]
is produced, at time tl the time-interleaved transmission
block [LlR l~P 3Cl] is produced, at time t2 the time-
interleaved transmission block [L2Ro~P 2C2] is produced,
and so on. It is seen that, in each transmission bloc~, the-
respective words contained therein exhibit a time-interleaved
relationship with respect to each other. In such a time-
interleaved transmission block, there is little, if any,correlation between the words therein.
FIG. 4C represents the seriali~ation of successive
time-interleaved transmission blocks. I-t is appreciated that
a blank period is formed between adjacent transmission blocks
so as to accommodate video synchronizing signals that may be
inserted therein.
Turning now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated one
embodiment of a decoder which is compatible with the encoder
shown in FIG. 2. It is appreciated that the encoder of
FIG. 2 is a time-interleaved error correction encoder.
Hence, the decoder shown in FIG. 3 will be recognized as
a time-interleaved error correction decoder that is particularly
compatible with the FIG. 2 embodiment.
The decoder shown in FIG. 3 is comprised of a
Z5 distributor 29, an error detector 30, time delay circuits 31a
and 31b, an error correction circuit 32, a compensation
- circuit 33 and a mixer 34. Distributor 2g is coupled to an
,~
-~3--
.

dq~ 3
input terminal 28 to EeCeiVe the serialized transmission
blocks shown in FIG. 4C, which t~ansmission blocks may
be reproduced from a record medium or may be supplied
thereto by any other suitable data source. It is appre-
5 ciated that the serialized transmission blocks suppliedto distributor 29 are substantially free of video synchroniz-
ing signals which may have been inserted into the original
transmission blocks, the synchronizing signals having
been removed by, for example, synchronizing signal
separator circuit 16 (FIG. l). Distributor 29 is
adapted to distribute the respective PCM, parity and
error-detection words into separate, parallel channels,
The distributor thus may be comprised of a demultiplexer
that operates in a manner which is inversely related to
the operation of the multiplexer that may be included in
mixer 25. Thus, distributor 29 serves to recover successive
time-interle~ved transmission blocks comprised of the left-
channel series SL, right-channel series SRll, the parity
series SPl and the error-detection series SC. Such recovered
transmission blocks may be represented by the timing diagram
of FIG. 4D.
. Error detection circuit 30 may comprise a CRC
check circuit which is supplied with all of the interleaved
- words included in a received transmission block. The CRC
2S check circuit operates in the manner discùssed broadly above
to detect the presence of an error in a received transmission
block. In the event an error is detected, CRC check circuit 30
-24-

generates a "pointer" or error Elag associated with each PCM
and parity word contained in the received transmission block,
thereby identifying, or designating, such words as being
"erroneous". In one embodiment, CRC check circuit 30 does
not determine which particular word (or words) is erroneous.
For time-interleaved error correction purposes, it is suffi-
cient merely to designate all of the words in an erroneous
transmission block as being in error. In another embodiment,
such as the technique described in copending application
Serial No. 31,030, filed April 18, 1979, the particular words
which are erroneous are indicated.
Time delay circuit 31a is coupled to distributor 29
so as to impart a time delay of-2D to the left-channel PCM
words included in left-channel series SL. As indicated by
the broken line shown in FIG. 3, the "pointer" or error
flag associated with these left-channel words likewise is
delayed. Time delay circuit 31b is disposed to impart a
time delay D to the right-channel PCM words included in
right-channel series SRll. The "pointer" or error flag
associated with each right-channel PCM word also is delayed.
The parity words included in parity series SPl are not delayed.
It is appreciated that time delay circuits 31a and 31b provide
time delays which are inversely related to the time delays
imparted by time delay circuits 24a and 24b in the encoder
of FIG. 2. These time delay circuits of the decoder serve
to time de-interleave the respective words included in each
received transmission block. Thus, at the output of the time
delay circuits, the original timing relationship of the PCM

and pari-ty words which comprised each original data block
is restored. The time de-interleaved data block is
comprised o~ delayed left-channel series SL11, delayed
right-channel series SRlll, and non-delayed parity series SP1.
The "pointers" or error flags associated with the time de-
interleaved words also are provided at the outputs of these
time delay circuits.
Error correction circuit 32 is coupled to receive
each successive time de-interleaved transmission block.
For example, the error correction circuit may be a conven-
tional parity decoder which is operable when the pointer
or error flag associated with one PCM word supplied thereto
is set. ~hen operated, error correction circuit 32 sums
the PCM and parity words included in the time de-interleaved
data block, as by modulo 2 addition, to obtain a syndrome.
~his syndrome then is used to correct the erroneous PCM
word included in the time de-interleaved data block. When
the erroneous word is corrected, its associated pointer,
or error fIa~, is cleared. As is conventional, error
correction circuit 32 does not operate if the pointer, or
error flag, associated with two of the wo-rds supplied thereto
are set. Likewise, error correction circuit 32 does not
operate if the parity word supplied thereto is identified
as being erroneous. Of course, if the parity word is
identified as being erroneous but the PCM words are not,
there is no need to correct such PCM words.
The corrected PCM words are supplied from error
correction circuit 32 to compensation circuit 33, together
-26-

with their associated pointers, or error flags. If an
erroneous PCM word is correctecl, its error flag is
cleared. However, if an erroneous PCM word is not
corrected, for example, if the error flags associated
with two words supplied to error correc-tion circuit 32
are set, thus making the error correction process impossible,
the error flags are not cleared. Compensation circuit 33
functions to approximate a correct value for the erroneous
PCM word supplied thereto. As one example thereof, compen-
sation circuit 33 may be of the "last value hold" type whichserves to replace the erroneous PCM word with the last-
received proper PCM word. For example, if PCM word Lo was
correct, but if the next-following PCM word Ll cannot be
corrected, then the previous value Lo is retained and used
as a replacement for the incorrect value Ll. Since the PCM
words represent audio information, and since audio information
varies at a relatively slow rate, satisfactory compehsation
is achieved by this type of approximation. In another
embodiment, compensation circuit 33 may be of the so-called
~'interpolation" type, wherein the correct value of a PCM
word is approximated by interpolating, or averaging, those
correct PCM words which precede and follow it. For example,
- if PCM word Ll is incorrect, but PCM words Lo and L2 are correct,
then the interpolation-type compensation circuit obtains an
average value from PCM words Lo and L2 to approximate the
proper value of PCM word Ll.
The respective PCM words produced at the output of
compensation circuit 33 are supplied to mixer 34 which serves

to combine the left-channel and right-channel words
supplied there-to into a single output channel. These
serialized PCM words are supplied to an output terminal 35,
from which they may be converted into analog form and used
to drive a loudspeaker or other transducer.
sriefly~ in operation, the decoder shown in
FIG. 3 is supplied with serialized time-interleaved
transmission blocks of the type shown in FIG. 4C.
Distributor 29 de-serializes these transmission blocks
to provide, at its respective outputs, the PCM, parity
and CRC words shown in FIG. 4B. If any of the words
included in the received transmission block is erroneous,
CRC check circuit 30 sets an error signal associated with
each word in that block. The time-interleaved PCM and
parity words included in each received transmission
block are time de-interleaved so às to restore the
original timing relationship shown in FIG. 4A. If any
of these de-interleaved words had been identified as
being erroneous, such identifications remain.
Then, error correction circuit 32 functions to
correct an erroneous PCM word included in a de-interleaved
- data block. As mentioned above, if two words in a de-inter-
leaved data block are identified as beina erroneous, such
words are not corrected. Rather, compensation circuit 33
approximates the correct value of such "uncorrectable"
P~M words. The resultant corrected/compensated left-
channel and rigllt-channel PC~ words then are mixed, or
merged, into a single channel by mixer 3~ and supplied
to output terminal 35.

It may be appreciated that the time-interleaved
error correc-tion code which is implemented by the encoder
and decoder shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively, is
advantageous in that burst errors are dispersed. That is,
errors of substantial length which might otherwise obliterate
a sizable portion of the PCM data are minimized so as to
permit error correction and compensation. The time-interleave
error correction code reduces the possibility of recovering
a de-interleaved data block containing two or more erroneous
PCM words. For example, let it be assumed that the trans-
mission blocks containing words [LoR 2P 4] and [LlR 1P 3]
are detected, by using CRC code words C0 and Cl, as being
erroneous. Each word included in these transmission blocks
thus is identified as being in error. Upon de-interleaving
these words so as to recover the original data blocks, it
will be seen that in the data block containing words [L 3R 3P 3],
only parity word P 3 is erroneous. In the de-interleaved
data block [L_2R_2P_2], only PCM word R 2 is erroneous.
In the de-interleaved data block [L lR lP 1]' only PCM
word R 1 is erroneous. In the data block [LoRoPo] only the
PCM word Lo is erroneous. In the data block [Ll~lPl], only
PCM word Ll is erroneous. In each of these five de-interleaved
data blocks, only one word contained therein is erroneous.
Such single-error words are readily corrected in error
correction circuit 32. Hence, a burst error of length D is
readily correctable. If the burst error exceeds this length,
then compensating circuit 33 functions to compensate erroneous
PCM words which cannot be corrected by error correction
circuit 32.
-29-

~525~7
As mentioned above, the PCM signals supplied to
the decoder shown in FIG. 3 may be reproduced from,
for example, a VTR. Suitable PCM signals mày be supplied
to the decoder by any other suitable data source. In FIG. 1,
change-over switch 6 represents one switching arrangement
for supplying the PCM signals to the decoder either from
playback section 5 of VTR 1 or Erom the encoding section
of PCM signal processing apparatus 2. Stated generally,
a change-over switching arrangement may be used to supply
time-interleaved transmission blocks of PCM signals from
either a first data source, referred to as source #1, or
a second data source, referred to as source #2. In FIG. 1,
playback section 5 corresponds to source #1, and the PCM
encoding section of PCM signal processing apparatus 2
corresponds to source #2. Obviously, other suitable
data sources may be used.
~ hen change-over switch 6 is operated so as to
change the particular data source that is coupled to the
PCM decoder, such as by changing over from data source #l
to data source #2, an error interval is produced, this
error interval having a time duration determined by the
transition period of the change-over switch. That is,
and as depicted in FIG. 5A, if commencement of the change-over
operation occurs at time to~ the error interval, or transition
period, extends from time to to time tl. At time tl, change-
over switch 6 fully couples source #2 to the PCM decoder.
In FIG. 5A, this error interval, or transition period,
is represented by the cross-hatched section. At the
beginning of this error interval, transmission blocks
--~0--
.

derived from data source #l are supplied to the decoder;
and at the completion of this error interval, transmission
blocks derived from data source #2 are supplied to the
decoder. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, decoder 17
is supplied with transmission blocks from playback
section 5 prior to the error interval; and the decoder
is supplied with transmission blocks from the encoding
section of PCM signal processing apparatus 2 following
the error interval.
Let it be assumed that the error interval is
equal to or less than one transmission block interval.
FIG. 5B is a timing diagram representing successive
time-interleaved transmission blocks that are produced
at the outputs of distributor 29. Those transmission
blocks which are derived from source #1 are represented
in the absence of parentheses, and -those transmission
blocks which are derived from source #2, that is, those
transmission blocks which are reproduced at the outputs
of the distributor following -the commencement of the
transition period, are indicated with parentheses.
If it is assumed-that the error interval is equal to or
less than a transmission block interval, then only one
transmission block will be erroneous -- i. e., the trans-
mission block that is received immediately following the
initiation of the transition period. FIG. 5B identifles
those words ln this transmission block, which are considered
to be errnoneous, by the superscript "x". More particularly,
CRC check circuit 30 sets the error flag associated with
-3`

each of words L4, R2 and P0. It may be appreciated that
signal dropout during this data error interval will
result in the setting of such error flags.
- FIG. 5C is a timing dlagram representing the
recovered data blocks ~Jhich are obtained by de-interleaving
the transmission blocks shown in FIG. SB. As shown, and
as is understood, the interleave/de-interleave technique
serves to disperse the erroneous words which are contained
in each interleaved transmission block, whereby only a
single word is identified as being erroneous in various
ones of the de-interleaved data blocks. Thus, in the
de-interleaved data block [PoR Lo]~ only the parity wor~ P0
is identified as being erroneous. In the de-interleaved
data block [PlRlLl], no words are identified as being
erroneous. In the de-interleaved data block [P2R2L2],
only PCM word R2 is identified as being erroneous.
In the de-interleaved data block [P3R3L3], no words are
identified as being erroneous. Finally, in the de-interleaved
data block [P4R4L4], only PCM word L4 is identified as being
erroneous. Since, at most, only a single word in any de-
interleaved data block is identified as being erroneous,it is recognized that error correction circuit 32 functions
so as to correct the erroneous PCM words.
However, i-t is recognized that, during the period
2D, four de-interleaved data blocks are provided with
words which are derived from both source #l and source #2.
Let the block intervals during which such de-interleaved
data blocks are provided be represented as block intervals
TBl, TB2, Ts3 and TB4, respectively. In the data blocks

occupying block intervals Tsl and Ts2, the PCM words are
derived from source #l, but the parity words are derived
from source #2. In the data blocks occupyir1g block
intervals TB3 and TB4, only the leEt-channel PCM words
are derived from source #l. The remainina PCM and parity
words are derived from source ~2. It will, therefore,
be appreciated that, if error correction circuit 32
operates during block interval TB3 so as to "correct"
the erroneous right-channel PCM word R2, a proper error
correction cannot be achieved. This is because the
error correction for PCM word R2 will be based upon parity
- word P2 and PCM word L2. But, since the data source from
which PCM word L2 is derived differs from the data source
from which parity word P2 and PCM word R2 are derived,
the lack of correlation therebetween will prevent erroneous
PCM word R2 from being corrected properly. Moreover, in
the error-correction operation carried out by error
correction circuit 32, the resultant "corrected" word
R2 may be so distorted that, when converted to an analog
signal to drive loudspeaker 20, a sharp or otherwise
undesirable sound will be produced.
That is, because of the error interval caused
- by the operation of change-over switch 6, errors will be
dispersed throughout a number of de-interleaved data
blocks. Error correction circuit 32 will operate in its
normal manner in an attempt to correct individual erroneous
PCM words. ~owever, the normal operation of this error
correction circuit during block interval TB3 will produce

an undesired result. It is a purpose of the present invention
to prevent this result from occurring without requiring any
special connections and without requiring special control
signals which may be produced elther by the change-over
switching arrangement or by the VTR with which it is used.
More particularly, the present :invention inhibits an
improper error correction operation from being carried
out on de-interleaved data blocks which contain words that
are derived from both source #l and source ~2.
One embodiment of the present invention is illus-
trated in FIG. 6. Those elements in FIG. 6 which are the
- same as the elements described above with respect to
FIG. 3 are identified by the same reference numerals.
In FIG. 6, distributor 29 is not shown. Nevertheless,
it is appreciated that this distributor is used to provide
the time-interleaved left-channel series ~SL, right-channel
series SRll, parity series SPl and CRC series SC. In
addition to those elements which have been described
above, FIG. 6 includes a counter 37, a de-tector 38, a
pulse generator 39, an OR gate 36, a NOR gate 40, a
syndrome forming circuit 41, an AND gate 42 and a monostable~
multivibrator 48. Counter 37 is coupled to the output of
CRC check circuit 30 to count each pointer, or error signal,
that is produced by the CRC check circuit whenever an
- 25 error in a received transmission block is detected.
Although not shown particularly herein, it should be
recognized that the CRC check circuit produces an error
flag pulse at the end of each transmission block interval.
-34-

13L$~
This pulse is converted by suitable circuitry (not shown)
so as to be present throughout subst~ntially the entire
transmission block interval with which it is associated.
This may be obtained by, for e~ample, trigaering a one-shot
circuit of suitable time constant with the error flag
pulse and, moreover, supplying the respective series SLll,
SR111 and SP1 through a one-block dela~ circuit. The
output of the one-shot circuit thus will coincide with
the outputs of each of these 1-block delayed series.
The output of counter 37 is coupled to detector 38,
the latter being adapted to detect when counter 37 attains
a predetermined count. As one example thereof, when the
count of counter 37 exceeds a count of 2, detector 38
detects this condition and triggers pulse generator 39.
Pulse generator 39 may be similar to the aforementioned
one-shot circuit and, when trig~ered, generates a simulated
pointer, or error flag. OR gate 36 includes one input coupled
to CRC check c.ircuit 30 and another input connected to pulse
generator 39 to supply either the actual error flag produced
by the CRC check circuit or the simulated error flag produced
by the pulse generator.
NOR gate 40 is provided with one input connected
to receive the pointer, or error flag, associated with each
de-interleaved left-channel PCM word included in each
de-interleaved data block, another input connected to
receive the pointer, or error flag, associated with each
de-interleaved right-channel PCM word included in each de-
- interleaved data block, and another input connected to receive
. . ,

~L~52~7
the pointer, or error flag, associated with each de-interleaved
parity word in each de-interleaved data block. This latter
input is seen to be coupled to the output of OR gate 36
and, thus, receives either the actual error flag produced
by CRC check circuit 3~ or the simulated error flag produced
by pulse generator 39. It may be appreciated that NOR gate 40
functions as a coincidence circuit to detect when all of
these error flags are cleared. The OR gate produces a no-error
signal SD, which is a binary "1" when no error flags are
detected, and which is a binary "0" when one or more error
flags are detected. This no-error signal SD is coupled to
one input of AND gate 42. The other input of this AND gate
is coupled to the output of a syndrome forming circuit 41.
The syndrome forming circuit is supplied with the
PCM and parity words contained in each de-interleaved data
block to produce a syndrome by the modulo-2 addition of such
words. More particularly, syndrome forming circuit 41 forms
the syndrome Pi ~ Ri ~ Li In the absence of any errors
in the de-interleaved data block, and if all of the words
contained in that data block are derived from the same
source, the generated syndrome corresponds to a predetermined
value. However, if an error is-present in any of the de-
interleaved words, or if the data block contains words which
are derived from different data sources, then the resultant
syndrome will not correspond to this predetermined value.
The generated syndrome is supplied to error correction circuit 32
and is used therein- to correct an erroneous PCM word. Further-
more, syndrome forming circuit ~1 produces a syndrome signal SS
-36-

which is a binary "1" whenever the generated syndrome differs
from its predetermined value, and is a binary "0" whenever
-the generated syndrome corresponds to the predetermined
value. ~his syndrome signal SS is supplied to AND gate 4~
wherein the coincidence between the syndrome signal SS and
the no-error signal SD is detected. As is appreciated,
AND gate 42 produces an output when a de-interleaved
data block contains no errors, but the generated syndrome
for that de-interleaved data block differs from the afore-
mentioned predetermined value.
Monostable multivibrator 48 is coupled -to AND gate 42
and is triggered in response to the output generated by the
AND gate to produce an inhibit signal Pc. This inhibit
signal is supplied to error correction circuit 32 and
functions to inhibit the operation of the error correction
circuit for the duration oE the inhibit signal. Preferably,
monostable multivibrator 48 exhibits a time constant such
that inhibit signal Pc exhibits a duration corresponding to
two data block intervals. When error correction circuit 32
is inhibited, an error correction operation is not performed.
Accordingly, if any of the PCM words then supplied to the
error correction circuit are identified as being erroneous,
such words are not corrected. Compensating circuit 33 then
carries out the aforementioned compensating, or approximating,
operation so as to replace the erroneous PCM word with
an approximated value thereof.
In operation, let it be assumed that the time-
interleaved transmission blocks supplied to the decoder shown
-37-

in FIG. 6 are derived from data source ~1 and then, following
the data error interval shown in FIG. 5A, are derived from
data source ~2. The respective words contained in each
time-interleaved transmission b:Lock will appear as shown
in FIG. 5B, with the erroneous data words being identified
by the superscript "x". The de--interleaved words consti-tutlng
each de-interleaved data block will appear as shown in FIG. 5C.
As before, those words which are derived from data source #l
are represented without parentheses, and those words which
are derived from data source #2 are represented by parentheses.
FIG. 5D represents a signal SD which would be produced if
NOR gate 40 is replaced b~ an OR gate, and FIG. 7A represents
the no-error signal SD produced at the output of NOR gate 40.
FIGS. 5E and 7B represent the syndrome signal SS produced by
syndrome forming circuit 41 whenever the syndrome generated
in response to the de-interleaved PCM and parity words differs
from the predetermined value. It is seen that the generated
syndrome dif~ers from the predetermined value whenever a
de-interleaved word contains an error, and whenever a de-
interleaved data block is formed of some words which are
derived from one data source and other words which are
derived from the other data source. This is expected because,
in these conditions, there is no correlation among all of
the words in the de-interleaved data block.
In the absence of the present invention, error
correction circuit 32 would operate whenever signals SD and SS
(FIGS. 5D and 5E) coincide. Such an operation will result
in the improper "correction" of PCM word R2 during block
-38-

interval TB3. This improper correction i5 avoided by the
embodiment shown in FIG. 6. In particular, AND gate 42
produces the output signal shown in FIG. 7C. The trailing
edge, or negative transition, of the first pulse produced
by AND gate 42 serves to trigger monostable multivibrator 48
to produce inhibit pulse Pc for a duration equal to two
data block intervals. FIG. 7D illustrates that inhibit
signal Pc is produced throughout data block intervals TB3
and TB4. Thus, error correction circuit 32 is inhibited
from operation during these data block intervals. Thus,
during data block interval TB3, PCM word R2 is not corrected
and, moreover, during the next-following data block interval TB4,
no correction is made, even though, during this data block
interval, the generated syndrome differs from its predeter-
mined value. Hence, the undesired sound which would otherwise
- be produced by the erroneous "correction" of PCM word R2
during data block interval TB3 is avoided. Rather, since
PCM word R2 is identiied as being erroneous, and since
it is not corrected by error correction circuit 32,
compensating circuit 33 functions to repIace this erroneous
PCM word with an approximation thereof. For example, the
preceding PCM word Rl, which is indicated as being correct,
is used again as an approximation for PCM word R2.
In the foregoing example, it may be sufficient
that inhibit signal Pc exhibit a duration e~ual to only a
single data block period TB3. However, it is preferred
that the inhibit signal ex-tend over two data block intervals
in order to inhiblt the erroneous "correction" of, for example,
-39-

~S2S91~
PCM word R3 in the event that the data error interval
encompasses two transmission blocks. Thus, NOR gate ~0,
syndrome forming circuit 41, AND gate 42 and monostable
multivibrator 48 serve to inhibit error correction
circuit 32 in the event that the data error in-terval
is equal to l/2D or D.
Now, let it be assumed that the data error interval
is greater than D. As a particular example, it is assumed
that this data error inter~-al is sufficient to produce
errors in threè successive interleaved transmission
blocks.
FIG. 8A is similar to FIG. 5C in that it illustrates
the de-interleaved words contained in the de-interleaved
data blocks which are produced immediately prior, during and
following the aforementioned data error interval. As before,
parentheses identify those words which are derived from
data source #2, and the superscript "x" identifies those
de-interleaved words which are erroneous. It is appreciated
that all of the words included in the received transmission
blocks [P0R2L4]~ [PlR3Ls] and [P2R4L6] are identified as
being erroneous because such transmission blocks are received
during the data error interval.
FIG. 8s illustrates the pointers, or error flags,
generated by CRC check circuit 30. As mentioned above,
these pointers are produced at the end of each transmission
block interval that is detected as being erroneous. FIG. 8C
represents the waveform of no-error signal SD. Since at least
one word in each de-interleaved data block during data block
intervals TBl...TB7 is erroneous, NOR gate 40 remains at its
- -40-

~Z~9~
binary "0" level duriny these intervals. This is because,
during each such interval, at least one error flag is
supplied to the NO~ gate. FIG. 8D represents the syndrome
signal SS produced by syndrome forming circuit 41. During
S data block intervals TBl.~Ts7~ the syndrome generated by
the syndrome forming circuit differs from its predetermined
value either because at least one de-interleaved word during
each interval is erroneous or because some de-interleaved
words during these intervals are derived from one data
source and other words are derived from the other source.
When CRC check circuit 30 produces the third error
flag at the end of data block interval TB3, the count of
counter 37 is incremented so as to exceed the predetermined
count of 2. Detector 38 detects that counter 37 now exceeds
this predetermined count and, therefore, triggers pulse
generator 39 to produce the simulated error flag shown in
FIG. 8E. This simulated error flag is produced after the
third error flag is generated and, thus, the simulated
error flag extends throughout the data block interval TB4.
This simulated error flag is supplied through OR gate 36
and, thus, is associated with parity word P3 included in
the de-interleaved data block [P3R3L3].
From FIG. 8A, it is seen that, since the parity
words included in the de-interleaved data blocks [PoRoLo]
and [PlRlLl] are identified as being erroneous, error
correction circuit 32 does not function to correct the
PCM words in these blocks. Furthermore, in the data
block [P2R2L2], since two words are identified as being
.

~2~97
erroneous, the error correction circuit does not opera-te.
However, in data block [P3R3L3], only the PCM word R3 is
identified as being erroneous. Hence, if error correction
circuit 32 is not inhibited, it would a-ttempt to erroneously
"correct" PCM word R3. Such a correction operation should
be inhibited because, as is apparent, this de-interleaved
data block contains PCM word L3 derlved from data source #1,
and the remaining words derived from data source #2. Since
there is no correlation therebetween, any "error correction"
will be erroneous. However, by generating the simulated
error flag during data block interval TB4, as shown in
FIG. 8E, error correction circuit 32 in-terprets parity
word P3, which is associated with this simulated error
flag, as being erroneous. Hence, error correction circuit 32
interprets de-interleaved da-ta block [P3R3L3] as containing
two erroneous words and, therefore, the error correction
circuit does not operate to carry out an error correction
operation.
The remaining de-interleaved data bIocks which are
supplied to error correction circuit 32 all contain words
- which are derived from the same data source, that is, data
source #2. Hence, for those data blocks which contain only
a single erroneous word, error correction circuit 32 functions
in its normal manner to correct that word.
It is appreciated that, when error correction
circuit 32 is inhibited from operating, compensating circuit 33
serves to replace uncorrectable PCM words with approximations
thereof in the manner described above.
-42-

1~5Z597
Thus, it is seen that, ~hen the error interval
encompasses three or more transmission blocks, an erroneous
error correction operation, which might otherwise be
carried out, is avoided. In the embodiment described
above, the simulated error flag produced by pulse
generator 39 is associated with the de-interleaved parity
word. Although this simulated error flag ma~ be associated
with a de-interleaved PCM word,-this may frustrate an error
compensation operation in some instances and, therefore,
is not preferred.
Another embodiment of a time-interleaved encoder
is illustrated in FIG. 9. This encoder is adapted to
distribute the left-channel and right-channel PCM words
into a plurality of left-channel and right-channel series.
Accordingly, the encoder includes a distributor 22a,
which may be similar to aforedescribed distributor 22,
to distribute a single channel of PCM words into separate
left-channel and riaht-channel sequences SL and SR,
respectively. These sequences are supplied to a further
distributor 22b which, in turn, produces the left-channel
series SLl, SL2 and SL3 in response to the sequence SL,
- and produces the right-channel series SRl~ SR2 and SR3
in response to the sequence SR. For example, if the
left-channel sequence SL is comprised of left-channel PCM
-2' L_l~ L_o~ Ll, L2~ L3~ L4, L5 and L6, and if
the right-channel sequence is comprised of right-channel PC~
-2' -l' R_o/ Rl, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6, distributor 22b
serves to distribute such sequential words into the following
-
-43-

- ~SZS97
parallel-by-word data blocks [L_2R_2L_lR_lLoRo]t [Ll 1 2 2 3 3
and [L4R4L5R5L6R6]. It may be appreclated that each word
in.each of these data blocks i5 provided in a respective one
of series SLl' SRl~ SL2~ SR2~ S~3 and SR3. Thus, each data
block is formed of three left-channel words and three right-
channel words.
The encoder shown in PIG. 9 also includes parity
word generator 23 having a plurality of inputs, eàch coupled
to receive a respective word included in each data block,
this parity ward generator including, for example, a modulo 2
adder, similar to aforedescribed parity word generator 23.
- Still further, another error-correction word generator 44
is connected to receive each of the words contained in a
data block. Error correction word generator 44 may be,
for example, a b-adjacent encoder which generates a parity-
type word related to the PCM words supplied thereto. For
example, let it be assumed that the data block [LlRlL2R2L3R3]
is supplied by distributor 22 to encoder 44. This encoder
generates a parity word Ql which may be expressed as:
Ql = T Ll ~ T Rl ~ T L2 ~ T R2 ~ T2L3 ~ TR3
wherein T is a matrix of a d-order generating polynomial G(x),
d ~ 3. If d = 3, the generating polynomial G(x) is a reduced
polynomial on the Galois field GF(2), this reduced polynomial
being expressed as G(x) = 1 + x + x3, so that T may be
expressed as:
001
T = 101
010
-~4-

~SZ5~
In the expression representing the pari-ty word Ql' T, T2, T3,
- T and T5 all differ from each other.
The respective PCM words, together with -the P-parity
word generated by parity word generator 23 and tl~e Q-parity
word generated by b-adjacent encoder 44, all are supplied
to respective time delay circuits 2~a...24g. These time
delay circuits impart respective time delays to the words
supplied thereto so as to time-interleave the PCM and parity
words. More particularly, left-channel series SLl is delayed
by OD (i. e., it is not delayed), right-channel series SR
is delayed by the amount D, left-channel series SL2 is
delayed by the amount 2D, right-channel series SR2 is delayed
by the amount 3D, left-channel series SL3 is delayed by the
amount 4D, right-channel series SR3 is delayed by the amount 5D,
P-parity series SP is delayed by the amount 6D and Q-parity
series SQ is delayed by the amount 7D. In these time delay
circuits, the delayed amount D is equal to the time occupied
by two successive data blocks. Furthermore, and as is appre-
ciated, the minimum difference between any two time delays
is seen to be equal to D.
- The time-interleaved PCM and parity words produced
at the outputs of the delay circuits are supplied to mixer 25
and, additionally, to CRC generator 26. The CRC generator
may be similar to the aforedescribed CRC generator to produce
a CRC series SC. Each CRC word included in the series SC
is derived from the time-interleaved PCM and parity words
supplied to the CRC generator. It will be recognized that
these time-interleaved PCM and parity words, together wlth
the generated CRC word, constitute a time-interleaved transmission
-45-

597
block. In the illustrated example, each such time-interleaved
transmission block is comprised of n PCM words, two error-
correction (or parity) words and one CRC code word. In
this particular example, n = 6. However, and as will be
appreciated, n may be any other desirable integer.
Mixer 25 is similar to the aforedescribed mixer
in that it serializes each time-interleaved transmission
block supplied thereto. Successive, serialized transmission
blocks are produced at output terminal 27 and may be supplied
to a time-base compression circuit for the formation of
blank periods in the serialized transmission blocks, each
blank period having a video synchronizing signal inserted
thereinto.
The encoder shown in FIG. 9 is similar to the
encoder described in aforementioned copending application
Serial No. 86,677.
If desired, error-correction word generator 44
may be another conventional generator and need not be limited
solely to a b-adjacent encoder. Regardless of the particular
type of error-correction word generators which are used, it
should be recognized that, by providing two parity words in
each transmission block, the decoder has the capability of
- correcting two erroneous PCM words which may be contained in
each received data block. This capability, coupled with the
dispersal of burst errors due to the time-interleaved code
results in an enhanced error correction scheme.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, mixer 25 produces
a serialized transmission block of the type detected in
~IG. llA. If D is the time delay equal, effectively, to two
-46-

115ZS97
data block in-tervals, then, at the time -that distributor 22b
supplies the data block [LlRlL2~R2L3R3], the time-interleaved
transmission block produced at the output of mixer 25 is
[ 1 -5L-14R_l6L_2lR_27P-35Q-4lcl]- The simulated video
signal which is produced in response to -this serialized
transmission block appears as shown in FIG. llB. It is
seen that each serialized transmission block corresponds
to a "line interval" of video information, the transmission
block itself being identified by re~erence numeral 46,
being preceded by a data synchronizing signal 45, being
followed by a white-level reference signal 47, and being
included in tthe line interval defined by horizontal
synchronizing signals HD. PCM-encoded signals having the
waveforms shown in FIG. llB are easily recorded by a
conventional VTR.
One embodiment o a decoder which is compatible
with the encoder shown in FIG. 9 and which is readily adapted to de
code each serially-received transmission block shown in
FIG. llA is illustrated in FIG. 10. This decoder is comprised
of a distribu-tor 29, a CRC check circuit 30, time delay
circuits 31a...31g, error correction circuit 32, error
compensation circuit 33 and mixer 34. Distributor 29 is
similar to the aforedescribed distributor shown in FIG. 3,
except that the distributor of FIG. 10 serves to demultiplex
each received time-interleaved transmission block into n
parallel PCM words, two parity words and one C~C word.
In the example described herein, n = 6. Thus, the trans-
mission block shown in FIG. llA is supplied, in paxallel-by-
word format, at the multi-channel outputs of distributor 29,
-17-

l~5~S~
these outputs corresponding to series SLl, SRll, SL12, SR12,
SL13, SR13, SPl, SQl and SC, re~spectlvely.
All of the time-interLeaved words which are con-
tained in the received transmission block are supplied
to CRC chec~ circuit 30. This CRC check circuit functions
in a manner similar`to that described hereinabove to
designate, or identify, all of the words contained in -the
received time-interleaved transmission block as being
erroneous. That is, the CRC check circuit detects an error
in a received transmission block and, when an error is
detected, the pointer, or error flag, associated with each
word contained in the received transmission block is set.
Time delay circuits 31a...31g are adapted to
impart time delays to the time-interleaved words included
in each received transmission block, which time delays are
inversely related to the time delays which were imparted by
the encoder shown in FIG. 9. Thus, each left-channel PCM
word included in series SLl, which words had not been
subjected to any time delay ln the encoder, now are subjected
to a maximum time delay 7D by time delay circuit 31a. The
right-channel PCM words included in series SRll, which had
been subjected to an encoder time delay of D time units now
- are subjected to a time delay of 6D by time delay circuit 31b.
In similar fashion, series SL12 is subjected to a time delay
of 5D by time delay circuit 31c, series SR12 is subjected to
a t1me delay of 4D by time delay circuit 31d, series SL13 is
subjected to a time delay of 3D by time delay circuit 31e~
series SR13 is subjected to a time delay of 2D by time
delay circuit 31f, series SPl is subjected to a time delay of D
by time delay circuit 31g, and series SQl is subjected to a
-48-

i~S~2597
time delay of OD. Thus, the original time-aligned data
bloc~s, comprised of time de--interleaved PCM and parity
words, are produced sequentially at the outputs of the
time delay circuits. Each time de-interleaved block
is comprised of delayed series SLll, delayed series SR~
delayed series SLlL2, delayed series SR112, delayed series SL113,
delayed series SR113, delayed seriès SPll and non-delayed
parity series SQl, each time de-interleaved word in these
series being accompanied by its respective pointer or
la error flag which also is provided at the output of each
time delay circuit.
Error correction circuit 32 is coupled to receive
the de-interleaved PCM and parity words included in each
data block, together with the error flags associated with
such de-interleaved words. The error correction circuit
may be of the type described in copending application
Serial No. 195,625. It will be appreciated -that, since
the error correction circuit is supplied with two parity
words Pi and Qi' two erroneous PCM words inc-luded in a
de-interleaved data block may be corrected. For example,
error correction circuit 32 may form a first syndrome from
the PCM words and the-P-parity word included in the de-
interleaved data block; and it may also form a second
syndrome from the PCM words and the Q-parity word included
in that data block. These syndromès then can be used to
correct two erroneous PCM words. Thus, a burst erxor
having a maximum time-length of 2D, that is, a burst exxor
which affects four successive transmission blocks, may be
corrected.
-9q-

llSZS97
If three or more PCM words in a de-interleaved data
block are erroneous, or if the parity words in a data block
are erroneous, error correction circuit 32 does not operate
to correct the PCM words. Accordingly, those PCM words
which are erroneous and whose error flags are set are
supplied to error compensation circuit 33. This error
compensation circuit may be sim:ilar to the aforedescribed
error compensation circuit which functions to approximate
a correct value for an uncorrectable PCM word. The corrected/com-
pensated PCM words then are supplied by compensation circuit 33to mixer 34 whereat they are multiplexed into a single PCM
channel and supplied to output terminal 35. This single
channel of PCM words thèn may be converted into analog form
and used, for example, to drive loudspeaker 20.
The present invention, one embodiment having been
described hereinabove with respect to FIG. 6, is readily
adapted for use with the time-interleaved encoder/decoder
arrangement shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The embodiment of
FIG. 6 may be modified such that syndrome forming circuit 41
is constructed as two separate syndrome forming circuits,
one for forming the syndrome in response to the P-parity
words and the other for forming the syndrome in response to
the Q-parity words. NOR gate 40 is supplied withthe error
fl.ag associated with each PC~ and parity word, and monostable
multivibrator 48 is provided with a time constant having a
period of, for example, ten data block intervals. Also,
pulse generator 39 generates a simulated error flag having
a duration of, for example, nine data block lntervals.
-50-
~: '

~s~5g7
The manner in which the present invention operates
with the decoder embodiment shown in FIG. 10 now will be
briefly described. FIG. 12A is a timing diagram representing
successive de-interleaved data blocks. The series of de-
interleaved parity and PCM words are shown as the series
SQ SP , SR113~ SL113, SR112' SL112' 111 111
series having its associated time delay illustrated thereon.
The solid lines represent those words which are derived from
data source #1, and the broken lines represent those de-
interleaved words which have been derived from data source #2.As before, it is assumed that time-interleaved transmission
blocks first are supplied to the decoder from data source #l
and then, during a transition period whlch establishes the
error interval represented by the cross-hatched areas in
FIG. 12A, successive transmission blocks are supplied from
data source ~2. In the example shown in FIG. 12A, it is
assumed that the data error interval affects only a single,
received time-interleaved transmission block. FIG. 12A
illustrates the particular data blocks into which the errors
due to this transition interval are dispersed. For convenience,
the parity series SQl is used as a reference because this
series is not delayed by the decoder shown in FIG. 10.
FIG. 12s illustrates the no-error signal SD
produced by, for example, NOR gate 40 in response to
successive de-interleaved data blocks. FIG. 12C illustrates
the syndrome signal SSl formed by t~e syndrome forming
circuit in response to the de-interleaved P-parity series SPll.
It is seen that this syndrome signal SSl commences at the
-51-

~szs~
beginning of period TD2, that is, this syndrome signal
commences with the error in the delayed P-parity series.
FIG. 12D illustrates the syndrome signal SS2 formed by
the syndrome forming circuit in response to the Q-parity
series SQl. It is seen that this syndrome signal SS2
commences at the beginning of-period TDl, that is, this
syndrome signàl commences with the detected error in the
de-interleaved Q-parity series SQl. soth syndro~e signal SS
and syndrome signal SS2 terminate when the last error in
the de-interleaved data blocks is detected, that is, the
syndrome signals terminate after the error in the delayed
series SLlll is detected. It is assumed that the only
errors which are present in the de-interleaved data blocks
are those represented by the cross-hatched areas.
When the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is used with
the decoder of FIG. 10, it is assumed that AND gate 42 is
supplied with syndrome signal SSl (FIG. 12C) and with no-
error signal SD (FIG. 12A). The resultant output of the
AND gate thus appears as shown in FIG. 12E. The initial
negative-going transition in the output of the AND gate
(FIG. 12A) is used to trigger monostable multivibrator 4
which generates the inhibit pulse Pc shown in FIG. 12F.
It is assumed that the time constant of the monostable
multivibrator is equal to five periods TD, that is, it is
equal to the time interval occupied by ten successive data
blocks. Thus, error correction circuit 32 is inhibited by
this inhibit pulse Pc from the time that the first de-interleaved
.

~SZ~iig7
erroneous PCM word is received in series SR113 until the
time that the last de-interleaved erroneous PCM word
(included in 5eries SLlll) is received. From FIG. 12A,
it is seen that, during the duration of inhibit pulse
Pc, each de-interleaved data block is comprised of at
least one PCM word derived from data source #l and the
remaining PCM words derived from data source #2. It is
recalled that, when a data block contains PCM words derived
from different data sources, there is no correlation among
all of such PCM words and, therefore, error correction
thereof cannot be carried out properly. To avoid an
erroneous "correction", the inhibit pulse Pc prevents
error correction circuit 32 from operating during the
interval that such mixed PCM words are present.
15From FIGS. 12A and 12F, it is appreciated that,
- during periods TDl and TD2, no error correction is needed
because, during these periods, the only errors which are
present are errors in the parity words. During periods TD3...TD7,
errors are present in one PCM word contained in those de-
interleaved data blocks which are produced during the first
half of each such period. During normal operation, error
correction circuit 32 operates to correct such erroneous
- PCM words. However, each de-interleaved data block which
is produced during the intervals TD3...TD7 includes at least
one PCM word derived from source #l and the remaining PCM
words derived from source ~2. Since there is no correlation
between the data sources, an erroneous PCM word ih such
data blocks cannot be corrected. Accordingly, to avoid an
erroneous "correction" of such PCM words, error correction

~L~SZ5~7
circuit 32 is inhibited by inhibit pulse Pc during these
periods TD3...TD7. Nevertheless, even though an erroneous
PCM word is not corrected by er:ror correction circuit 32,
a close approximation of the correct PCM word is substituted
therefor by error compensation circuit 33.
During period TD8, the PCM word included in
series SLlll is erroneous. However, in the de-interleaved
- data block which contains this PCM word, all of the remain-
ing PCM and parity words are derived from the same data
`10 source, that is, all of the words included in this data
block are derived from data source #2. Hence, the erroneous
PCM word included in series SLlll may be corrected by error
correction circuit 32 in accordance with the usual parity or
b-adjacent error correction operation.
Although not shown herein, it will be recognized
that, if the data error interval exhibits a length equal to D,
for examplel no-error signal SD remains at`its binary "0"
level throughout the interval defined by syndrome signal SS2.
Hence, the output of AND gate 42, as shown in FIG. 12E,
likewise remains at its binary "0~ level. Consequently,
monostable multivibrator 48 is not triggered, and the
inhibit pulse Pc is not produced.
~ Nevertheless, the occurrence o a data error
interval equa~ to D or-more is detected by the combination
of counter 37 and detector 38 (FIG. 6), described above.
For-example, let it be assumed that the data error interval
is equal to 2.5D, as represented in FIG. 13A. CRC check
:.
.
.

ll~Z~97
circuit 30 thus detects errors in each of five successive
received transmission bloeks.
Now, if error correction circuit 32 is not
inhibited, it is seen that, in the de-interleaved data
block produced during the latte:r half of period TD3,
the PCM word included in series SR113 is in error and
is derived from data source #2, but all of the remaining
PCM words are correct and are derived from data source #1.
The error correction circuit would attempt to correct
this erroneous PCM word in series SR113 during the latter
half of period TD3. However, this error correction operation
would be improper because of the mixture of data sources
from which the words included in this de-interleaved data
bloek are derived. Likewise, in the de-interleaved data
block received during the latter half of period TD4, the
PCM words included in series SR113 and SL113 both are
erroneous, but none of the remaining words in this de-
interleaved data block are in error. Error eorreetion
circuit 32 normally operates to correet these two erroneous
PCM words in response to the P-parity and ~-parity words
as well as the remaining non-erroneous PCM words included
in this data block. However, such an operation will
produce an erroneous "correction" of these PCM words because
of the fact that these erroneous words are aerived from
data source #2, but the remaining PCM words included in
this data block are derived from data source #1. The lack
of correlation between the data sources prevents proper

~lgLSZ597
error correction. The foregoing erroneous error-correction
operation will be carried out for the two PCM words which
are identified as being erroneous in the de-interleaved
data blocks which are produced during the latter half of
each of periods TD5, TD6 and TD7.
The present invention operates to prevent such
erroneous error correction operations during these periods.
Thus, when CRC check circuit 30 detec-ts the presence of an
error in the fifth received transmission block, so as to
increment counter 37 to a count of five at a delayed
time 2. 5D following the reception of the flrst erroneous
transmission block, detector 38 detects this predetermined
count to trigger pulse generator 39. The pulse generator
generates a simulated error flag having a duration that
terminates at the delayed time 7D. This simulated error
flag is associated by a suitable OR gate, such as an OR
gate analogous to aforedescribed OR gate 36, with the
Q-parity words, as shown in FIG. 13B. Hence, during -the
latter half of each of periods TD3, TD4, TD5, TD6 and TD7,
the Q-parity words are identified as being erroneous.
During the latter half of each of these periods, two
PCM words in each de-interleaved data block also are
identified-as being erroneous. Now, since the Q-parlty
word also is erroneous for each of these data blocks, error
correction circuit 32 cannot operate to correct both erroneous
PCM words. Hence, these PCM words are not corrected and,
therefore, an otherwise improper correction operation is
inhibited. The uncorrectable PCM words are, nevertheless,
-56-

~L~52S~17
replaced by close approximations thereof as a result of
the operation of compensation circui-t 33~ Accordingly,
each de-interleaved data block which contains so~e words
derived from data source ~l and other words derived from
data source #2 is not error-corrected. This avoids an
erroneous error correction operation and, therefore,
prevents the generation of an undesired sound due to
an erroneously-corrected PCM word.
FIG. 13C represents a modification of the invention,
when used with the decoder of FIG. lO, in that the simulated
error flag generated by pulse generator 39 is added to the
error flag associated with each word contained in the
sixth received transmission block. This has the effect of
"enlarging" each error flag so as to extend for a duration
of 3D rather -than the actual duration of 2.5D. It is seen,
from FIG. 13C, that each de-interleaved data block produced
during periods TD3, TD4, TD5, TD6 and TD7 contains three
erroneous PCM words. Although error correction circuit 32
is capable of correcting two erroneous PCM words in each
de-interleaved data block, the presence of three erroneous
PCM words prevents the error correction circuit from operating.
In the embodiment of the invention described herein-
above with respect to FIG. 13A, it may be stated, generally,
that when CRC check circuit 30 detects the presence of an
error in each of five successive, received transmission
blocks, the Q-parity word included in the next-following _
transmission block is designated as being erroneous. In the
example shown in FIG. 13A, the Q-parity word is designated

-~525~7
as being erroneous in the next-followlng nine transmission
blocks. This results in "enlar~ing" the error flag asso-
ciated with the Q-parity words in the manner shown in
FIG. l3s~ That i5, the error f~ag associated with the
Q-parity words is set during the reception of fourteen
successive transmission blocks. Consequently, in each
de-interleaved transmission block that contains some words
derived from data source #l and other words derived from
data source #2, at least three words in each such block
are identified as being erroneous. It is recalled that
error correction circuit 32 cannot operate to correct more
than two erroneous PCM words in any de-interleaved data
block.
While the present invention has been particularly
shown and described with reference to certain preferred
embodiments, it should be readily apparent to those of
ordinary skill in the art that variou changes and modifica-
tions in form and details may be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example,
in the foregoing embodiments, the basic or minimum time
delay unit D has been assumed to be equal to the time period
occupied by two transmission or data blocks. That is, D has
been assumed to be equal to two transmission block intervals.
If desired, other suitable delays may be used so as to
increase the correctable length of the burst error interval
which might be produced as a result of the transition between
data sources. As another modification, in the embodiments
shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the PCM series SLl...SR3 and the
parity series SP may be interleaved to produce an interleaved
5~ -

- - ~ ~5g7
sub-block, and the respective PCM and parity words in each
time-interleaved sub~block may be further interleaved with
the parity series SQ to produee the resultant time-interleaved
transmission block, such as de eribed more partieularly in
eopending application Serial No. 361r558. Furthermore,
although parity words have been deseribed as the error-
: eorreetion words included in each transmission block, it
will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art
that error eorrection words derived by other error-correetion
teehniques may be used.
Therefore, it is intended that the appended elaims
be interpreted as including the foregoing as well as various
other changes and modifieations.
. ~ -59-

Representative Drawing

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Administrative Status

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Event History

Description Date
Inactive: IPC deactivated 2011-07-26
Inactive: IPC deactivated 2011-07-26
Inactive: First IPC derived 2006-03-11
Inactive: IPC from MCD 2006-03-11
Inactive: IPC from MCD 2006-03-11
Inactive: Expired (old Act Patent) latest possible expiry date 2000-08-23
Grant by Issuance 1983-08-23

Abandonment History

There is no abandonment history.

Owners on Record

Note: Records showing the ownership history in alphabetical order.

Current Owners on Record
SONY CORPORATION
Past Owners on Record
KENTAROU ODAKA
Past Owners that do not appear in the "Owners on Record" listing will appear in other documentation within the application.
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Document
Description 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Number of pages   Size of Image (KB) 
Claims 1994-01-13 9 340
Abstract 1994-01-13 1 30
Drawings 1994-01-13 7 187
Cover Page 1994-01-13 1 14
Descriptions 1994-01-13 59 2,072