12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of receiving said transmission block; decoding said odd and even information words to correct errors therein; removing the time displacement between the decoded odd and even information words; approximating a correct information word if that information word contains an uncorrected error therein by interpolating adjacent decoded odd information words to approximate a correct even information word and by interpolating adjacent decoded even information words to approximate a correct odd information word; and recovering a corrected sequence of information words formed of the decoded and approximated information words.
1. A method of communicating a sequence of digital information words, comprising the steps of: separating said information words into a sequence of odd information words and a sequence of even information words; time-displacing the separated odd and even information words from each other by a predetermined amount; encoding said odd information words in an error-correcting code; separately encoding said even information words in an error-correcting code; combining said encoded time-displaced odd and even information words into a transmission block; and transmitting said transmission block.