Information recording-reproducing method and apparatus

Abstract

An information recording-reproducing method is disclosed. An error correction code of M bytes and N bytes is imparted in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction, respectively, to data of m.times.n bytes. A signal of (m+M).times.(n+N) bytes (m, n, M and N being one or an integer greater than one) is produced. The signal to which the error correction code has been imparted is written-in to a recording medium. The written-in signal is read out from the recording medium. Error correction on the read-out signal is effected in only one of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction by the use of the error correction code included in the signal. A determination is made of the occurrence of abnormality in the writing-in when all the errors in the signal cannot be corrected by the error correction in the one direction. The signal for which has been determined that no abnormality exists in the writing-in is re-read out from the recording medium and error correction on the re-read-out signal in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction is effected by the use of the error correction code included in the signal. Data is thereby reproduced.