Abstract: An encoded message, includes a plurality of data items and a plurality of redundant data items. Each of the plurality of redundant data items corresponds to a number of the data items, with respective redundant data items corresponding to different numbers of data items.

Abstract: A method of encoding a message including a plurality of data items, includes identifying maximum and minimum numbers of first edges to be associated with data items. A first distribution of different numbers of first edges, ranging from the maximum to the minimum number of first edges, to be associated with the data items is computed. A first associated number of first edges, within the range, is established for each data item, the different numbers of first edges being associated with the data items according to the computed first distribution. A maximum and minimum number of second edges to be associated with redundant data items are identified. A second distribution of numbers of second edges, ranging from the maximum to the minimum number of second edges, to be associated with the redundant data items is computed.

Abstract: An encoded message includes a plurality of data items and a plurality of redundant data items. Each of the redundant data items is associated with more than one of the data items. To decode the encoded message, a reduced first redundant data item is reduced to correspond to only one data item. This data item is replaced with the reduced first redundant data item. A second redundant data item is reduced, using the replaced data item, to correspond to only a second of data item. The second data item is replaced with the second redundant data item to decode the encoded message.