Parity Packet FEC for Recovering Lost Packets in Incomplete Blocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
HDBaseT data cannot be transmitted directly over standard Ethernet/IP networks due to protocol incompatibility, leading to delays and inefficiencies, especially with incomplete data blocks and USB transmissions, which require adaptive forward error correction (FEC) mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a virtual HDBaseT link that uses adaptive FEC with a parity packet system, where redundancy information is sent separately and can recover lost packets from incomplete blocks without requiring packet buffers at the sender, suitable for real-time applications and multiple network hops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If standard Ethernet/IP networks are used to transmit HDBaseT data, then network extension and compatibility are improved, but transmission delays and inefficiencies occur due to protocol incompatibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (custom protocol layer and FEC system) that bridges HDBaseT and Ethernet protocols, allowing seamless data transmission while maintaining low latency through optimized packet handling and error correction
2Reliability
If traditional FEC approaches are used that require complete blocks, then error correction reliability is improved, but transmission latency increases due to waiting for complete blocks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic FEC approach where the system adapts between processing complete blocks (for maximum reliability) and incomplete blocks (for low latency), making the block completion requirement flexible rather than fixed based on real-time transmission needs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial FEC action by processing available packets immediately when a block is incomplete, rather than waiting for the full block, thus achieving timely transmission with sufficient (though not maximum) error correction capability
3Reliability
If packet buffers are implemented at the sender side to accumulate complete blocks, then FEC reliability is improved, but device complexity and memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the buffer requirement from the sender side and relocates it to the receiver side, allowing the sender to process and transmit packets immediately without accumulation, while the receiver maintains buffers for FEC processing of received packets
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems that enable recovery of a lost packet from an incomplete block transmitted over a communication network. In one embodiment, a system includes a first processor configured to: receive a block of packets during a period spanning a certain duration, calculate a parity packet (PP) for the block, and provide in PP an indication of the number of packets in the block, where the block comprises k<n packets, and the certain duration is long enough to enable the processor to receive at least n packets. A transmitter transmits the k packets and PP. A receiver receives, over a period that is not longer than the certain duration, packets sent by the transmitter. A second processor detects, based on the number indicated in PP, that one of the k packets of the block was lost, and utilizes PP to recover said lost packet.