Optical Channel FEC Layering for Lower-Power Data Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Complex FEC encoders and decoders in optical communication systems achieve high performance but consume more power, posing a challenge in applications where power reduction is crucial.
Innovation Solution
An optical module with a second FEC encoder having a bit-level trellis representation with fewer than 64 states is used to further code a subset of FEC-encoded data, reducing power consumption while maintaining performance, and a complementary FEC decoder is employed for receiving data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex FEC encoders and decoders are used, then data recovery performance is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the data stream into two separate channels: a first data stream that is FEC encoded with a first code, and a second data stream that is FEC encoded with a second code. This segmentation allows each encoder to be optimized independently, with the second encoder using a lower complexity code (fewer than 64 states in trellis representation) to reduce power consumption while the first encoder handles the primary error correction needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of code complexity by selecting different FEC codes for different data streams. Specifically, it uses a code with fewer than 64 states in the bit-level trellis representation for the second data stream, which directly reduces the computational complexity and power consumption of the encoder while maintaining adequate error correction performance.
2Use of energy by moving object
If low-complexity FEC encoders are used, then power consumption is reduced, but data recovery performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the error correction function across two different FEC codes. The first FEC code handles the primary error correction for all data, while the second FEC code (with lower complexity and fewer than 64 states) provides additional protection for a subset of the first encoded data. This segmentation allows the system to use simpler encoders without sacrificing overall reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies a second layer of FEC encoding as a form of prior cushioning against errors. By encoding a subset of the first FEC-encoded data with a second code before modulation, the system creates an additional safety net that protects against channel impairments, ensuring data recovery performance is maintained even with lower complexity encoders.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical module processes first FEC (Forward Error Correction) encoded data produced by a first FEC encoder. The optical module has a second FEC encoder for further coding a subset of the first FEC encoded data to produce second FEC encoded data. The optical module also has an optical modulator for modulating, based on a combination of the second FEC encoded data and a remaining portion of the first FEC encoded data that is not further coded, an optical signal for transmission over an optical channel. The second FEC encoder is an encoder for an FEC code that has a bit-level trellis representation with a number of states in any section of the bit-level trellis representation being less than or equal to 64 states. In this manner, the second FEC encoder has relatively low complexity (e.g. relatively low transistor count) that can reduce power consumption for the optical module.