Q Margin Calculation Using Per-Codeblock BER Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for calculating the Q margin in communication systems, particularly in optical transport systems, often result in incorrect assessments due to averaging Bit Error Rates (BER) over time, which can mask high error rates in individual FEC codeblocks, leading to hidden failures and incorrect reliability measures.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that compare the Bit Error Rate (BER) to a Forward Error Correction (FEC) threshold for each codeblock, rather than averaging over time, to accurately determine the Q margin by recording and comparing the maximum BER for each codeblock to the FEC threshold, ensuring timely identification of errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If BER is averaged over time to calculate Q margin, then calculation complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to masking of high error rates in individual codeblocks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the error analysis by evaluating each FEC codeblock individually rather than averaging across all codeblocks. The Q margin is determined by comparing the maximum BER among individual codeblocks to the FEC threshold, ensuring that high error rates in any single codeblock are not masked by averaging with other codeblocks having lower error rates.
2Reliability
If maximum BER per codeblock is tracked instead of averaged BER, then reliability assessment is improved, but device complexity increases due to per-codeblock monitoring requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors each FEC codeblock separately to determine the BER for each individual codeblock, then identifies the maximum BER among all codeblocks. This segmented approach provides accurate reliability assessment by capturing the worst-case error performance without requiring complex continuous monitoring of all codeblocks simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of monitoring and storing BER data for all codeblocks equally, the system performs partial action by focusing only on identifying the maximum BER value needed for Q margin calculation. This reduces the monitoring complexity from tracking every codeblock's full BER history to simply finding and comparing the maximum value.
3Measurement precision
If per-codeblock BER comparison is performed, then detection precision of error conditions is improved, but loss of time increases due to individual codeblock evaluation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent evaluates BER for each FEC codeblock individually to ensure precise detection of error conditions, then efficiently determines the maximum BER across codeblocks. This segmented evaluation maintains high detection precision by not averaging errors while minimizing time loss through efficient maximum value identification rather than complex statistical analysis of all codeblocks.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system, and ASIC chip for comparing a bit error rate (BER) to a forward error correction (FEC) threshold to determine a Q margin for a codeblock; wherein the BER corresponds to the number of errors in a given amount of data; where a codeblock of a FEC corresponds to the given amount of data; wherein the FEC threshold corresponds to the maximum amount of errors per codeblock that the FEC is able to remove per given amount of data; wherein the Q margin corresponds to a difference between the BER and the FEC threshold.