Unequal error protection scheme for headerized sub data sets

A method for decoding a headerized sub data set (SDS), the method comprising:

• decoding a header from a headerized SDS to obtain a SDS;
• performing C1 and C2 decoding on the SDS in a number of iterations based on a number of interleaves in each row of the SDS;
• overwriting a number of columns of the SDS with successfully decoded C2 codewords;
• overwriting a number of rows of the SDS with successfully decoded C1 codewords;
• erasing a number of C1 and/or C2 codewords of the SDS;
• maintaining remaining rows and/or columns of the SDS as uncorrected;
• and
• outputting the SDS when all rows of the SDS include only C1 codewords and all columns of the SDS include only C2 codewords.

A computer program product for decoding a headerized sub data set (SDS), the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code readable/executable by a drive to:

• decode, by the drive, a header from a headerized SDS to obtain a SDS;
• perform, by the drive, C1 and C2 decoding on the SDS in a number of iterations based on a number of interleaves in each row of the SDS;
• overwrite, by the drive, a number of columns of the SDS with successfully decoded C2 codewords;
• overwrite, by the drive, a number of rows of the SDS with successfully decoded C1 codewords;
• erase, by the drive, a number of C1 and/or C2 codewords of the SDS;
• maintain, by the drive, remaining rows and/or columns of the SDS as uncorrected;
• and
• output, by the drive, the SDS when all rows of the SDS include only C1 codewords and all columns of the SDS include only C2 codewords.