BASE-T Ethernet Framing With RS-LDPC Coding for Lower Data Rates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing high-speed Ethernet transmission standards, such as 10GBASE-T, are not optimized for data rates lower than 10 Gbps, limiting their effectiveness for lower speed applications.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves reorganizing bit groups in the 10GBASE-T transport frame to utilize sparser constellations like PAM8, enabling Reed-Solomon coding and combining it with LDPC coding for enhanced error detection and correction, allowing for more robust data transmissions at lower data rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If 10GBASE-T transmission scheme is used, then bit error rate is very low (close to Shannon limit), but data rate is fixed at 10 Gbps and not adaptable to lower speeds

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebit error rateVSAvoiddata rate adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adaptability by enabling the transmission system to switch between different data rates (10 Gbps, 5 Gbps, 2.5 Gbps, 1 Gbps) based on channel conditions. The coding scheme and modulation parameters are dynamically adjusted to match the required data rate while maintaining low bit error rates, transforming a static 10GBASE-T system into a dynamically adaptable one.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes key transmission parameters including coding rate, constellation size, and symbol rate to achieve different data rates. By modifying these parameters, the system maintains optimal performance across various speed modes, resolving the contradiction between fixed high-speed optimization and multi-rate adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If sparser constellations like PAM8 are used with Reed-Solomon coding, then coding gain increases and error correction improves, but frame structure and bit grouping become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror detection and correctionVSAvoidframe structure organization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the Ethernet frame into distinct bit groups that are separately processed by different coding schemes. The frame structure is divided into segments that can be independently encoded with appropriate coding rates, allowing flexible combination of Reed-Solomon and LDPC coding without requiring complete restructuring of the entire frame format.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent designs a universal frame structure that can accommodate multiple coding schemes (Reed-Solomon, LDPC) and modulation formats (PAM8, PAM16). This multi-functional frame structure serves different data rates and error correction requirements without requiring separate specialized formats for each case, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11233603B2High-speed ethernet coding

Publication Date: 2022.01.25 MARVELL ASIA PTE LTD

AI summary

A BASE-T Ethernet transceiver is disclosed. The transceiver includes a BASE-T Ethernet transmit circuit that employs a data framing module. The data framing module includes an input interface to receive Ethernet block data bits, and, forward error correction encoder is coupled to the logic to encode at least a first portion of the data bits to generate first error check bits. A Reed-Solomon (RS) encoder is coupled to the logic to encode at least a second portion of the data bits in accordance with a Reed-Solomon error code to generate second error check bits. A symbol mapper modulates the Ethernet block data bits in accordance with an SQ64 constellation comprising back-to-back PAM8 symbols.