Optical Signal Equalization With Shared Decoder Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Coherent optical transmission systems face high signal transmission complexity due to the need for multiple iteration processes between multi-symbol detectors and FEC decoders, leading to increased complexity and potential precision issues in data feedback.

Innovation Solution

A signal transmission system that includes an equalization module with multiple multi-symbol detectors and a feedback module, where the equalization module performs equalization processing on a convolutional data flow, and the feedback module determines a feedback data flow based on decoded data to improve detection processing without requiring multiple decoders and iteration processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple multi-symbol detectors and FEC decoders are disposed in one-to-one correspondence with multiple iteration processes, then detection precision is improved, but signal transmission complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection precisionVSAvoidsignal transmission complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple FEC decoders into a single shared decoder that serves multiple multi-symbol detectors. The decoder receives detection results from all detectors and performs unified feedback, eliminating the need for multiple separate decoder instances while maintaining iterative detection precision through the feedback mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single FEC decoder is designed to perform multiple functions by serving as a universal decoding unit for all multi-symbol detectors. It processes detection results from different detectors and provides feedback to multiple detectors, replacing the need for dedicated decoders for each detector while maintaining system performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If multiple iteration processes are performed between multi-symbol detectors and FEC decoders, then data precision is improved, but feedback complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata precisionVSAvoidfeedback complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the single FEC decoder receives detection results from multiple multi-symbol detectors, performs decoding, and feeds back decoded information to the detectors. This unified feedback path simplifies the feedback structure compared to multiple separate feedback paths while maintaining the iterative precision improvement through multiple detection iterations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If multiple FEC decoders are disposed for parallel processing, then processing speed is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple FEC decoder functions into a single decoder unit that processes detection results from multiple detectors sequentially or in a time-multiplexed manner. This merging approach maintains processing capability while significantly reducing system complexity by eliminating redundant decoder instances and their associated feedback paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3657697B1Signal transmission method and system
Publication Date: 2021.12.22 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3657697B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3657697B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3657697B1 patent drawingFigure 6A

AI summary

This application provides a signal transmission method and system, and relates to the field of communications technologies. The system includes an equalization module, a first decoder, and a feedback module. The equalization module includes at least two multi-symbol detectors. The feedback module is connected to the first decoder and the at least two multi-symbol detectors. The equalization module performs equalization processing on convolutional data flows to obtain an equalized data flow. In this process, each multi-symbol detector performs multi-symbol detection processing on a convolutional data flow input into the multi-symbol detector. The first decoder decodes the equalized data flow to obtain a decoded data flow. The feedback module feeds back a feedback data flow to the at least two multi-symbol detectors. The equalization module performs equalization processing on the convolutional data flows based on the feedback data flow. In this process, each multi-symbol detector performs, based on the feedback data flow, multi-symbol detection processing on the convolutional data flow input into the multi-symbol detector. In this application, a problem of relatively high signal transmission complexity is resolved, and signal transmission complexity is reduced.