Serial Stream Control Symbols for Error-Tolerant Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current digital video transmission technologies face challenges in maintaining synchronization between transmitters and receivers due to high error rates, leading to delays and poor user experience, particularly in serial stream data transmission.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating predefined m-bit control symbols, such as {k1-k2-k2-k1} or {k1-k1-k2-k2}, with a Hamming distance of at least 2, to enhance robust detection and synchronization in serial streams, allowing for effective data delineation and synchronization even in the presence of single-bit errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If control symbols are transmitted in a serial stream at high transmission rates, then data transmission speed is improved, but synchronization reliability deteriorates due to bit errors corrupting control symbols

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission rateVSAvoidsynchronization reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by designing control symbols with built-in error tolerance through the {k1-k2-k2-k1} structure where k1 and k2 have Hamming distance of at least 2. This allows the receiver to detect and correct single-bit errors in control symbols without losing synchronization, cushioning against the reliability deterioration that would otherwise occur at high transmission rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter structure of control symbols from conventional formats to the specific {k1-k2-k2-k1} format with Hamming distance constraints. This parameter change enables the control symbols to withstand bit errors better, maintaining synchronization reliability while allowing high transmission rates to continue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If conventional control symbols are used, then device complexity is reduced, but detection robustness deteriorates in the presence of bit errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol symbol structureVSAvoiddetection robustness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The {k1-k2-k2-k1} structure with Hamming distance of at least 2 provides beforehand cushioning against bit errors. The receiver can detect and correct single-bit errors in control symbols without losing synchronization, cushioning against the reliability deterioration that would otherwise occur at high transmission rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If the receiver alerts the transmitter of synchronization loss using the auxiliary channel, then synchronization can be reestablished, but user experience deteriorates due to unacceptable delay

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization recoveryVSAvoidsynchronization delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by enabling the receiver to autonomously detect and correct synchronization errors through the error-tolerant {k1-k2-k2-k1} control symbol structure. The receiver can independently handle single-bit errors without needing to alert the transmitter via the auxiliary channel, eliminating the delay associated with auxiliary channel communication and improving user experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2122961B1Robust control/delineation in serial streams
Publication Date: 2015.11.04 ATI TECHNOLOGIES ULC
  • EP2122961B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2122961B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2122961B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Control symbols taking the form {k1-k2-k2-k1} are inserted in a serial stream including m bit data words. k1 and k2 are each predefined m bit control words differing from the m bit data words. The Hamming distance between k1 and k2 is at least 2. Such control symbols may be robustly detected in the presence of a one bit error in the symbol, or a data word immediately preceding or following the symbol. The m bit words may be 8B/10B encoded data, or defined control words. The control symbols may be used for data delineation, stream synchronizaiton, transmitter/receiver synchronization or for other control signalling.