Multiplexer Transcoding for Legacy 25G to 100G Network Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data communication systems are inadequate in supporting high-speed data communication applications, particularly for legacy devices using older communication protocols, which limits their ability to connect to newer, faster networks without requiring updates or equipment replacement.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves transcoding multiple independent data streams from a first data rate to a higher second data rate using separate communication pipelines and multiplexing them with alignment markers to generate an output data stream, allowing legacy devices to operate seamlessly with newer, faster networks like 100 Gb/s connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If legacy devices using older communication protocols are used, then compatibility with existing equipment is maintained, but data transfer speed is limited and cannot support high-speed networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communication pipeline that acts as an intermediary between legacy devices and high-speed networks. The pipeline includes a transcoder that converts data from legacy encoding schemes to modern encoding schemes, and a buffer that manages data rate differences. This intermediary enables legacy devices to communicate over high-speed networks without requiring hardware upgrades.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key parameters of the data stream including encoding scheme (e.g., from 64b/66b to 256b/257b), data rate (from 25 Gb/s to 100 Gb/s), and buffer management strategies. These parameter changes allow the same physical device to operate across multiple speed tiers by dynamically adjusting transmission parameters.
2Productivity
If data streams are multiplexed from multiple input lanes to a single output lane, then network bandwidth is increased, but data rate synchronization and alignment become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary actions by pre-synchronizing multiple input data streams before multiplexing. The buffer component pre-processes incoming data streams, aligning them to a common timing reference and inserting alignment markers. This preliminary synchronization simplifies the subsequent multiplexing operation and reduces the complexity of real-time alignment during data transmission.
3Adaptability or versatility
If transcoding is applied to convert data between different encoding schemes, then compatibility across different network standards is improved, but processing overhead and latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transcoding process into distinct modular components: a buffer that handles timing adjustments, a transcoder that performs encoding conversion, and an alignment marker module that inserts synchronization signals. This segmentation allows each component to operate independently and efficiently, reducing overall processing latency while maintaining protocol compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication device includes a plurality of communication pipelines configured to receive respective input data streams and a multiplexer coupled to the plurality of communication pipelines. The multiplexer is configured to generate an output data stream by combining the input data streams and to insert one or more special characters into the output data stream in response to a fault with one of the communication pipelines.