A system that produces one or more non-repeating randomizer sequences of up to
2m-1 or more m-bit symbols includes a randomizer circuit that is set
up in accordance with a polynomial with primitive elements of GF(2m)
as coefficients. The system combines the randomizer sequence with all the symbols
of ECC code words that are encoded using a BCH code over GF(2m) to produce
a randomized code word. The particular primitive elements used and/or an initial
state of one or more registers in the system specifies the particular sequence
produced by the system. The initial state of each of the one or more registers
is a selected one of the 2m-1 elements of GF(2m), and thus,
2m-1 different sequences may be produced by selecting a different initial
state for a given one of the registers. If the coefficients are also selected from,
for example, a set of "p" possible values, the system produces p*(2m-1)
different sequences. The system may thus be used to encrypt the ECC code word by
associating the code word with a particular selected initial state and/or coefficient.
The coefficients may be selected to produce randomizer sequences that are predetermined
minimum distances away from both the ECC code words.