Method and apparatus for encoding data to guarantee isolated transitions in a magnetic recording system

A system for storing input groups of uncoded binary data on a storage medium, comprising:

• means for receiving a plurality of uncoded data blocks in a data stream;
• means for generating one corresponding encoded data block for each uncoded data block, wherein an encoded data stream obtained from concatenating successive encoded blocks includes a predetermined bit pattern comprising a plurality of bits, wherein the bit pattern always occurs within a first number of bits and two occurrences of a “1” and “0” occur within a second number of bits;
• and
• means for storing the encoded data stream on the storage medium.

An article of manufacture including code for storing input groups of uncoded binary data on a storage medium, wherein the code is capable of causing operations comprising:

• receiving a plurality of uncoded data blocks in a data stream;
• generating one corresponding encoded data block for each uncoded data block, wherein an encoded data stream obtained from concatenating successive encoded blocks includes a predetermined bit pattern comprising a plurality of bits, wherein the bit pattern always occurs within a first number of bits and two occurrences of a “1” and “0” occur within a second number of bits;
• and
• storing the encoded data stream on the storage medium.