Systems and methods for penalty based multi-variant encoding

A method for data processing, comprising:

• adding a plurality of salt data patterns to a data input to yield a plurality of salted data patterns;
• applying a low density parity check encoding algorithm to the plurality of salted data patterns to yield a plurality of codeword candidates, wherein each of the plurality of codeword candidates is a valid encoded version of the data input and wherein each of the plurality of codeword candidates can be decoded with a same decoding algorithm;
• evaluating the plurality of codeword candidates based on robustness data for possible patterns in the plurality of codeword candidates;
• and
• selecting a codeword to output from among the plurality of codeword candidates based at least in part on the robustness data.

A storage system, comprising:

• a multi-variant encoder operable to encode a data input, comprising:
• a salting circuit operable to apply a plurality of salt data patterns to data derived from a data input;
• at least one encoding circuit operable to encode the data derived from the data input to yield a plurality of candidate codewords, wherein each of the candidate codewords is at least partially different due to the plurality of salt data patterns applied by the salting circuit;
• and
• a codeword selection circuit operable to select one of the plurality of candidate codewords as an output codeword based at least in part on robustness data for patterns in the plurality of candidate codewords;
• a storage medium maintaining a data set comprising output codewords processed by the multi-variant encoder;
• a read/write head assembly operable to write the data set to the storage medium and to read the data set from the storage medium;
• and
• a decoder operable to decode the data set after it is read from the storage medium and to produce a copy of the data input and the salt data pattern applied to generate the output codeword, wherein the decoder is further operable to discard the salt data pattern and to yield the copy of the data input as a data output.