Fixed-length two-dimensional modulation coding for imaging page-oriented optical data storage systems

We present a comprehensive discussion of modulation coding for page-oriented optical data storage (PODS) systems that write and read data in a two-dimensional (2-D) bit image format. We give several 2-D mathematical models for these systems, including two-photon optical data storage systems. Using these models, we describe the nature of intersymbol interference (ISI) in imaging PODS systems and find that its characteristics are different from ISI in conventional serial magnetic and optical data storage systems. To overcome the ISI in these imaging PODS systems, we present what is, to our knowledge, a novel 2-D modulation coding scheme. We also present many examples of fixed-length 2-D modulation codes with diverse properties. Finally, we analyze and compare the bit-error rate performance of these codes.