Physical Link Layer Reliability via Redundant Frame Retransmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional physical link layer protocols, such as 10 Gigabit Ethernet, face challenges in achieving low latency data communication with improved reliability, as Forward Error Correction (FEC) introduces significant latency due to its complex processing overhead.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves transmitting original frames and repeat frames over a data connection, with the repeat frames carrying the same data payload as the original frame. This approach suppresses the transmission of administrative control symbols, allowing bandwidth to be used for data redundancy and fault tolerance, thereby eliminating the need for time-consuming error correction routines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Forward Error Correction (FEC) is used for reliable data communication, then physical link layer reliability is improved, but data communication latency increases due to complex processing overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by transmitting repeat frames in advance before the original frame is fully processed or acknowledged. The transmit node sends multiple copies of the same data frame at different times, so that if the first frame is corrupted, a valid copy is already in transit or waiting at the receive node, eliminating the need for retransmission and reducing latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating multiple identical copies of the data frame (repeat frames) that carry the same payload. These copies are transmitted sequentially, and the receive node can select any valid copy for processing. This approach replaces complex error correction with simple redundancy, achieving reliability without FEC processing overhead.
2Reliability
If administrative control symbols are transmitted continuously to maintain connection, then link reliability is maintained, but available bandwidth for data transmission is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes administrative control symbols (idle patterns, comma symbols) from the transmission stream during periods when no new data needs to be sent. By suppressing these non-essential control symbols, the bandwidth that would have been consumed by them is freed up and reallocated for transmitting repeat frames, thereby increasing effective data transmission capacity while maintaining connection integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed herein that provide low latency data communication with improved physical link layer reliability through repeated physical layer retransmission of data over a data connection whenever the connection is idle (i.e., no new data to send). In some embodiments, the transmission of administrative control symbols (e.g., “idles,”“commas”, etc.) can be suppressed or otherwise reduced to allow some of the available connection bandwidth to be used for data redundancy and fault tolerance through the repeated retransmission of data as described in more detail below. Accordingly, instead of executing time-consuming error correcting routines, a receive node can discard the erroneous data frame and process at least one repeat frame that carries the same data payload. Sequence numbers and/or other repeat indicators can be used to distinguish original frames from repeat frames and/or for identifying which frames carry the same data payload.