Redundant multitrack (d, k) codes

Multitrack run-length-limited (d, k) modulation codes were recently introduced as a method to increase storage densities in magnetic and optical recording systems. These codes are a generalization of the usual run-length-limited (d, K) codes and provide for increased storage density by relaxing the k-constraint and encoding multiple tracks in parallel. Previously, n-track (d, K) codes used all n tracks to satisfy the K constraint causing synchronization to be completely intolerant of faulty tracks. The authors present multitrack (d, k) codes which allow for r faulty tracks by mandating that all subsets of n-r tracks satisfy the K constraint. >