FEC Decoder Candidate-Bit Resolution Using Transmitter Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems face challenges in reliably recovering lost data packets due to uncertainties in bit values during forward error correction (FEC) decoding, especially in lossy communication channels, where multiple candidate bit values can exist for a single bit, leading to incomplete data recovery.

Innovation Solution

The method involves processing encoded data bits at a receiver by using redundant data units for error correction, where information about the transmitter is analyzed to exclude invalid candidate bit values, thereby resolving uncertainties and improving data recovery. This includes decoding FEC data units generated through various methods, such as exact copies, lower bit rate copies, or combinations of original data packets, and optimizing FEC schemes for better loss-recovery performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If forward error correction (FEC) decoding is used to recover lost data packets, then data recovery capability is improved, but uncertainty in bit values persists when multiple candidate bit values exist

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata recovery capabilityVSAvoiduncertainty in bit values

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from the decoder about candidate bit values and uses transmitter information to selectively exclude invalid candidates, iteratively resolving uncertainties until a definitive bit value is determined

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Transmitter information acts as an intermediary that mediates between the multiple candidate bit values, providing criteria to eliminate invalid candidates and identify the correct bit value

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If redundant data units are added for error correction, then loss-recovery performance is improved, but bit rate efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloss-recovery performanceVSAvoidbit rate efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system optimizes FEC scheme parameters such as redundancy ratio and code rate to achieve the desired loss-recovery performance while minimizing the impact on bit rate efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If multiple candidate bit values are analyzed to exclude invalid ones, then data recovery accuracy is improved, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata recovery accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and utilizes transmitter information to eliminate invalid candidate bit values, focusing processing effort only on the relevant candidates rather than all possible combinations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS9276606B2Correction data

Publication Date: 2016.03.01 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Various embodiments provide a method for processing encoded data bits transmitted over a lossy communication channel. In some embodiments, the method receives the encoded data bits over the communication channel, the encoded data bits including redundant data units; decodes the encoded data bits at an error correction decoder, wherein the recovery of lost data is implemented at the error correction decoder using at least one of the redundant data units; determining if at least one data bit is unable to be recovered due to the decoder finding a plurality of candidate bit values for the at least one data bit; receives information relating to the transmitter; analyzing the plurality of candidate bit values to exclude at least one of the candidate bit values for the at least one data bit using information relating to the transmitter; and resolves the at least one data bit based on the analysis.