Adaptive TCM Decoder Trace-Back Control for Low-Latency Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Trellis-Coded-Modulation (TCM) decoders in Gigabit Ethernet receivers have a fixed trace-back length, which leads to increased latency and is not adaptable to varying signal quality, resulting in inefficient error correction.
Innovation Solution
A TCM decoder with a branch metric unit, path metric unit, trace-back length selection circuit, and survival path management circuit that dynamically determines the trace-back length based on signal quality, reducing unnecessary latency by adjusting the decoding process accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the trace-back length of the TCM decoder is set to be relatively long to guarantee the success of operations, then the reliability of error correction is improved, but the signal latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic trace-back length adjustment mechanism where the TCM decoder automatically modifies the trace-back length according to the signal quality of the receiver. When signal quality is good, a shorter trace-back length is used to reduce latency; when signal quality deteriorates, the trace-back length is extended to ensure error correction success. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the system flexible rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of trace-back length based on signal quality conditions. The system monitors receiver signal quality and adjusts the trace-back length parameter accordingly, transforming it from a fixed parameter to a variable one that adapts to operating conditions, thereby achieving both low latency under good conditions and high reliability under poor conditions.
2Device complexity
If the trace-back length is fixed, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to varying signal quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustment capability to the TCM decoder by adding a trace-back length selection circuit that automatically modifies the trace-back length based on signal quality. This maintains relatively simple device structure while achieving high adaptability through automatic parameter adjustment rather than multiple complex configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a Trellis-Coded-Modulation (TCM) decoder applied in a receiver, wherein the TCM decoder includes a branch metric unit, a path metric unit, a trace-back length selection circuit and a survival path management circuit. In operations of the TCM decoder, the branch metric unit is configured to receive multiple input codes to generate multiple sets of branch information. The path metric unit is configured to calculate multiple survival paths according to the multiple sets of branch information. The trace-back length selection circuit is configured to select a trace-back length, wherein the trace-back length is determined according to a signal quality of the receiver. The survival path management circuit is configured to return the multiple survival paths for the trace-back length in order to generate an output code.