Methods and apparatus for encoding and/or decoding digital data elements with different degrees of error protection in accordance with a quasi-product code

摘要

Methods and apparatus for encoding and/or decoding digital data elements of a uniform size with different degrees of error protection in accordance with a quasi-product code. The data elements are encoded by (a) distributing the data elements over an array of at least two dimensions, made up of lines in each of the at least two dimensions, so that at least two lines in a first one of the dimensions have a different number of data elements therein; (b) supplementing the data elements in the first one of the dimensions with first redundant elements of the uniform size in accordance with one or more first systematic codes so that all lines in that dimension containing one or more data elements therein have the same number of elements therein and each of those lines contains at least one separate first redundant element therein providing error protection to that line; and (c) supplementing the data elements and the first redundant elements in a second one of the dimensions with second redundant elements of the uniform size in accordance with one or more second systematic codes so that all lines in that dimension containing one or more data elements and/or first redundant elements therein have the same number of elements therein and each of those lines contains at least one separate second redundant element therein providing error protection to that line. The data elements are decoded by decoding the lines in each dimension, one dimension at a time.