On Diamond codes

A Diamond code is an error-correcting code obtained from two component codes. As in a product code, any symbol in a word of a Diamond code is checked by both component codes. However, the "code directions" for the component codes have been selected to minimize the memory that is required between successive decoding stages for the component codes. Diamond codes combine the error correcting power of a product code with the reduced memory requirements of the cross interleaved Reed-Solomon code (CIRC), applied in the compact disk system. We discuss encoding, decoding, and minimum distance properties of Diamond codes. Variations on the Diamond code construction are proposed that result in codes that are suited for use in rewritable block-oriented applications.