Method of storing or reproducing data packets

Abstract

Customary recorders record data packets of which the format is adapted to the data format of the recorder. If, however, the data packets have a differing format, various difficulties arise, for example, with error protection. In such cases, therefore, there is also no provision for a search mode with an at least partial evaluation of data packets. According to the invention, before the recording/storage, the data packets are consequently arranged 'transversely' in accordance with FIG. 1, i.e. it is not so that each data packet (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) is progressively recorded/stored (in the vertical direction in FIG. 1), but that the first section (a) of the data packets is progressively recorded (in the horizontal direction in FIG. 1). Subsequently, the further sections of these data packets are recorded. In the fast search of a digital recorder, the helical tracks can, however, only be read section by section. Of the data packets (1 . . . 5), there would only be picked up rudiments, which cannot be meaningfully decoded for reproduction. Thus, additional data packets (A1, A2, B1, B2), which may also partially be copies of the data already recorded in the 'normal' way, are recorded in reserve sections which can be contiguously read in a search. In a search at increased speed, these reserve sync blocks are then evaluated.