FEC Decoder Avoidance Using Predicted Code Block Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In broadband wireless networks, the inefficient operation of forward error correction (FEC) decoders in receivers leads to significant power consumption and reduced battery life in mobile wireless communications devices, especially under poor signal conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for FEC avoidance in a communications device that determines a reliability metric for received code blocks and disables the FEC decoder when the metric is below a threshold, conserving power by predicting decoding success, and uses a HARQ unit to request retransmissions when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If FEC decoder operates on all received code blocks, then decoding reliability is maintained, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of code block quality metrics (such as signal-to-noise ratio, bit error rate estimates) before committing to full FEC decoding. This preliminary action identifies code blocks that are likely to fail decoding or succeed without decoding, allowing the receiver to avoid unnecessary decoding operations and reduce power consumption while maintaining reliability for code blocks that need decoding.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying full FEC decoding to all code blocks, the system applies partial action by selectively decoding only those code blocks that meet quality thresholds. Code blocks with poor quality metrics are identified and marked for retransmission requests without consuming full decoding resources, while high-quality code blocks may be accepted with simplified verification, reducing overall power consumption.
2Reliability
If FEC decoder processes code blocks with low decoding probability, then no decoding opportunities are missed, but resource utilization becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of code block quality using metrics such as signal strength, noise levels, and initial error detection before initiating full FEC decoding. This preliminary action calculates the probability of successful decoding and compares it against thresholds, allowing the system to identify code blocks with low decoding probability and exclude them from further processing, thereby improving decoder efficiency without significantly compromising overall reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts decoding decisions based on real-time channel conditions and code block quality metrics. By continuously monitoring signal quality and adapting the decoding strategy, the system can respond to changing conditions and optimize the balance between decoding success probability and resource utilization, improving overall decoder productivity.
3Reliability
If all code blocks are decoded regardless of signal quality, then comprehensive error correction is attempted, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of code block quality and predicts likely decoding outcomes before initiating power-intensive FEC decoding operations. By identifying code blocks with poor signal quality that are unlikely to decode successfully, the system can skip decoding these blocks entirely and instead request retransmissions, significantly reducing power consumption and extending battery life while maintaining error correction capability for code blocks that are likely to succeed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different processing strategies to different code blocks based on their individual quality metrics. High-quality code blocks receive full error correction processing, while low-quality code blocks are identified and handled differently (skipped or marked for retransmission). This localized quality-based approach ensures that power resources are concentrated on code blocks where error correction is most likely to succeed, extending battery life without sacrificing overall reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and device for performing forward error (FEC) correction avoidance based upon predicted block code reliability in a communications device is provided. An avoidance unit comprising a metric computation unit and a decision unit generates a reliability metric based upon a received code block. The reliability metric is compared to a reliability threshold, and the forward error correction decoder in the communications device is disabled if the metric is below or equal to the threshold.