Tensor-product Parity codes: combination with constrained codes and application to perpendicular recording

Abstract

A parity code and a distance enhancing constrained code are often concatenated with a Reed-Solomon code to form a coding system for magnetic recording. The tensor-product parity coding scheme helps to improve efficiency of the parity code while retaining the same level of performance. In this paper, we present two methods for combining a tensor-product parity code with a distance-enhancing constrained code. The first method incorporates a constrained code with unconstrained positions. The second method uses a new technique, which we call word-set partitioning, to achieve a higher code rate relative to the first method. We simulate the performance of several coding systems based upon the two combination methods on a perpendicular recording channel, and we compare their symbol error rates and sector error rates with those of a system that uses only a Reed-Solomon code.