Reading encoded information subject to random and transient errors

A system for reading a data signal representing one or more encoded data symbols and subject to random errors and transient errors, comprising:

• a transient error detector coupled to receive the encoded data symbol and configured to identify one or more characteristics of a transient error in the data signal;
• a reliability detector configured to compute a reliability metric for one or more of the data symbols;
• an erasure flagger configured to label one or more of the data symbols as erasures or as valid data symbols based upon the identified transient error characteristic and a comparison of the computed reliability metric against a minimum reliability threshold;
• and
• a decoder coupled to the erasure flagger and configured to produce corrected data symbols by correcting errors and erasures.

A magnetic disk storage system, comprising:

• at least one magnetic storage disk;
• at least one magnetoresistive (MR) head configured to extract from the at least one magnetic storage disk a data signal representing one or more encoded data symbols and subject to random errors and transient errors;
• and
• a transient error detector coupled to receive the encoded data symbol and configured to identify one or more characteristics of a transient error in the data signal;
• a reliability detector configured to compute a reliability metric for one or more of the data symbols;
• an erasure flagger configured to label one or more of the data symbols as erasures or as valid data symbols based upon the identified transient error characteristic and a comparison of the computed reliability metric against a minimum reliability threshold;
• and
• a decoder coupled to the erasure flagger and configured to produce corrected data symbols by correcting errors and erasures.