Adaptive Hamming Distance Synchronization for High Bit Error Rates

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional data packet synchronization methods fail at high bit error rates, especially above 10% and in fiber-optic transmission systems, due to their reliance on precise bit patterns, which are unreliable with permanent bit errors, limiting their effectiveness at high data rates like 40 gigabits per second.

Innovation Solution

Adaptive error-tolerant pattern recognition method that adjusts the allowed Hamming distance in real-time to synchronize data packets, allowing for successful synchronization even with high error rates by varying the permitted number of errors, using look-up tables to optimize calculation speed and support various protocols.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional synchronization methods use fixed bit pattern comparison, then synchronization is simple and fast, but it fails at high bit error rates above 10%

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization reliabilityVSAvoidpattern recognition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the Hamming distance threshold adaptive rather than fixed. The threshold dynamically adjusts based on detected error rates and synchronization state, allowing the system to tolerate varying levels of bit errors in different operational conditions while maintaining reliable synchronization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of Hamming distance threshold from a static value to a dynamically adjustable parameter. By modifying this parameter based on error rate detection and synchronization progress, the system can adapt to high bit error rate conditions without requiring completely new synchronization mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the number of allowed incorrect comparisons is increased to tolerate errors, then error tolerance improves, but synchronization becomes slower and less precise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror toleranceVSAvoidsynchronization precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the Hamming distance threshold based on the current synchronization state and detected error rates. During initial acquisition, a higher threshold provides greater error tolerance, while during maintained synchronization, the threshold can be reduced for higher precision, thus resolving the trade-off between tolerance and precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary error rate detection and threshold adjustment before attempting synchronization. By预先 setting appropriate Hamming distance thresholds based on expected error conditions, the system avoids the need to use high thresholds throughout, thereby maintaining precision when possible while providing tolerance when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If data rate is increased to 40 gigabits per second and higher, then transmission capacity improves, but bit error rate increases making synchronization difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission rateVSAvoidsignal quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the synchronization approach from exact bit pattern matching to Hamming distance-based pattern recognition with adjustable thresholds. This parameter change allows the system to maintain reliable synchronization at high data rates where signal quality degrades and bit error rates increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring synchronization success and error rates, then adjusting the Hamming distance threshold accordingly. This feedback mechanism allows the high-speed transmission system to adapt to varying signal quality conditions and maintain reliable synchronization despite increased bit error rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2547032B1Method for data package processing at very high data rates and in extremely bad transfer conditions
Publication Date: 2018.05.23 ADVA OPTICAL NETWORKING SP ZOO
  • EP2547032B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2547032B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The method involves detecting erroneous or correctly recognized bits in actual data pattern. The number of erroneous or correctly recognized bits is added to create error sum reflecting number of errors present in detected actual data pattern. The error sum is compared with specifiable and changeable admissible maximum number of errors allowable for determining that detected actual pattern matches synchronization pattern accounting for errors. The admissible maximum number of errors is changed dynamically in response to system conditions. An independent claim is included for apparatus for performing adaptive, error-tolerant pattern recognition in transmission of digital data packets.