Ring Communication ECC Tuning for Variable Error Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems with ring-shaped coupling methods face challenges in maintaining optimal data transfer capabilities due to varying error rates along the communication paths, leading to inefficient error correction and potential performance degradation.
Innovation Solution
The communication system incorporates an ECC circuit in both the host controller and communication devices, with the capability to adjust error correction settings based on measured error rates. During initialization, a training pattern is used to assess error rates, allowing the system to set appropriate ECC capabilities for the entire ring coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fixed error correction capability is used in ring-shaped coupling, then device complexity is reduced, but data transfer efficiency deteriorates due to unnecessary retransmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The ECC capability is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The host controller can change the ECC capability (first, second, or third levels) based on measured error rates in the communication path, allowing the system to adapt to varying channel conditions and optimize data transfer efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The error correction capability parameter is changed based on error rate measurements. The system measures the error rate in the ring-shaped coupling path and adjusts the ECC capability parameter accordingly, selecting from multiple predefined levels to match the actual channel quality
2Reliability
If high error correction capability is used, then reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ECC capability parameter is adjusted based on measured error rates. When error rates are low, a lower ECC capability (and thus lower power consumption) is selected. When error rates are high, a higher ECC capability is selected to maintain reliability. This dynamic parameter adjustment optimizes the trade-off between reliability and power consumption
3Reliability
If high error correction capability is used, then reliability is improved, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ECC capability is dynamically adjusted based on real-time error rate measurements. By selecting the minimum necessary ECC level for current channel conditions, the system avoids the latency overhead of excessive error correction processing while maintaining adequate reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the ECC capability parameter based on measured error rates, selecting from multiple levels. This allows the system to use lower ECC levels (and thus lower latency) when channel conditions are good, while only increasing ECC level when actually needed to correct errors
4Productivity
If uniform error correction is applied in ring coupling, then device complexity is reduced, but performance deteriorates due to varying error rates along the path
Solution Approach 1:
The system measures the error rate in the ring-shaped coupling path and uses this feedback to adjust the ECC capability. This closed-loop control allows the system to optimize performance based on actual channel conditions while keeping the control mechanism relatively simple
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a communication system includes a host controller, a plurality of communication devices, and a communication path coupling the host controller and the communication devices in a ring shape and configured to transmit a communication frame for serial communications, wherein the host controller and the communication devices each includes an ECC circuit configured to detect and correct an error and having a variable error correction capability, and the host controller is configured to set an error correction capability of the ECC circuit in accordance with an error caused in the communication path.