Abstract: Techniques are provided for applying modulation constraints to data streams divided into separate interleaved portions. The even and odd bits in a data stream are separated into two data paths. A first modulation encoder encodes the even bits according to a first constraint. A second modulation encoder encodes the odd bits according to a second constraint. The two encoded data streams are then interleaved to form one data stream. The modulation encoders can encode the two data paths using Fibonacci encoding.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for performing substitutions of bit sequences that are known to cause errors. Input data is initially modulation encoded. The modulated data is then analyzed in a sliding window to determine if it contains any additional bit sequences that are known to cause errors. If an error prone bit sequence is identified in the data, a substitution engine replaces the error prone bit sequence with a predetermined pattern of bits that is less likely to cause errors. The bit stream output of the substitution engine is then recorded on a storage medium. The recorded bit stream is decoded when it read from the medium. The decoding process identifies the substituted bit pattern and replaces the substituted pattern with the original sequence of bits.

Abstract: Non-uniform modulation encoding techniques are provided to prevent data from containing bit patterns that are prone to errors during read back. Modulation encoding is performed on a data stream to remove error prone bit patterns. Unconstrained data, such as error check parity, that is inserted into the modulated data stream may contain error prone bit patterns. Stricter modulation constraints are enforced on bits that are next to the unconstrained data, than on the remaining bits. By enforcing stricter modulation constraints on these bits, an entire data bit stream can have a desired modulation constraint.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for applying modulation constraints to data streams using a short block encoder. A short block encoder encodes a subset of the bits in a data stream. Then, the even and odd interleaves in a data stream are separated into two data paths. A first modulation encoder encodes the even interleave according to a first modulation constraint. A second modulation encoder encodes the odd interleave according to a second modulation constraint, which in general coincides with the modulation constraint for even interleave.