Redundant multi-track (d, k) codes

The use of multitrack run-length-limited (d, k) modulation codes to increase storage densities in magnetic and optical recording systems is considered. The 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. Multitrack (d, k) codes that allow for r faulty tracks by mandating that all subsets of n-r tracks satisfy the k-constraint are presented