Pulse-Width Symbol Encoding for Extra-Bit Data Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication protocols face challenges in transmitting additional data, such as CRC, ECC, or control bits, without adding extra symbols, and ensuring reliable signaling of data flips, particularly in protocols like the STEP protocol where data rates are non-uniform.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that transmits an additional bit by using a long pulse of a length greater than the maximum payload data symbol pulse length, replacing one payload data symbol, and decodes it by determining the position of the long pulse to recover the removed data symbol.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional data (CRC, ECC, control bits) is transmitted using existing communication protocols, then data transmission reliability is improved, but the protocol complexity and transmission overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidprotocol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines additional data (CRC, ECC, control bits) with payload data symbols by transmitting them together in a single communication round using pulse width modulation, eliminating the need for separate transmission rounds and reducing protocol complexity while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The communication protocol is designed to handle multiple functions simultaneously: transmitting payload data, error checking data, and control bits all within the same symbol structure, making the system more versatile and reducing overall complexity

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

2Measurement precision

If data flip signaling is implemented in protocols like STEP, then data transmission accuracy is improved, but the non-uniform data rate worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission accuracyVSAvoiddata rate uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses pulse width as a variable parameter to encode multiple types of information (payload data, data flip signals, additional data) within a fixed symbol structure, allowing accurate signaling while maintaining uniform transmission timing and data rate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of information

If extra symbols are added to transmit additional data, then data transmission completeness is improved, but the transmission efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission completenessVSAvoidtransmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges additional data with payload data into a single symbol transmission using pulse width modulation, ensuring all data is transmitted together without requiring extra symbols, thus maintaining both completeness and efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses pulse width (time dimension) as an additional encoding dimension to transmit multiple types of information within the same symbol position, effectively increasing information density without adding more symbols

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4082136B1Apparatus and method for transmitting a bit in addition to a plurality of payload data symbols of a communication pro-tocol, and apparatus and method for decoding a data signal
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 INTEL CORP
  • EP4082136B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4082136B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4082136B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

An apparatus for transmitting a bit in addition to a plurality of payload data symbols of a communication protocol is provided. The apparatus comprises an input interface configured to receive information about a bit value of the bit. Further, the apparatus comprises a transmission circuit configured to, if the bit value is a first value, transmit the plurality of payload data symbols at predetermined positions in a data signal as pulses of variable pulse length. The respective pulse length of each of the pulses is selected based on the symbol value of the payload data symbol represented by the respective pulse. If the bit value is a second value, the transmission circuit is configured to transmit a pulse exhibiting a pulse length being longer than a maximum payload data symbol pulse length defined in the communication protocol at the predetermined position of the pulse for the d-th payload data symbol of the plurality of payload data symbols, d = k+i if k+i ≤ z. d = ([k+i] mod z) if k+i > z. k is the symbol value of the i-th payload data symbol of the plurality of payload data symbols, z is the number of possible symbol values of the payload data symbols defined in the communication protocol, and 1 ≤ i ≤ z.