Transceiver Fast Retraining Sequence for Link Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems face significant delays and resource inefficiencies when re-establishing a lost communication link, as they require a full training sequence that can take several seconds, which is time-consuming and wasteful, especially when only some transceiver parameters need adjustment.

Innovation Solution

A fast retraining sequence is introduced that updates only the necessary transceiver parameters, using a reduced set of stages and leveraging current parameters from the last full training, allowing for quicker recovery of communication links by omitting unnecessary calibration, auto-negotiation, and power backoff stages, and utilizing PAM-2 and PAM-16 training signals to adapt receiver settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a full training sequence is used to re-establish a lost communication link, then all transceiver parameters are updated and the link is re-established, but the process takes several seconds and consumes excessive time and resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication link re-establishmentVSAvoidretraining time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The full training sequence is segmented into multiple stages: calibration stage, auto-negotiation stage, power backoff stage, and parameter training stage. The invention identifies that after a link loss, only the parameter training stage is necessary, allowing the system to skip the other stages and significantly reduce retraining time while still achieving reliable link re-establishment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of performing the complete training sequence, the invention applies partial action by executing only the essential parameter training stage using fast retraining sequences. This partial approach updates only the necessary parameters (equalizer coefficients, timing recovery, frequency offset) without performing redundant calibration and auto-negotiation, thereby reducing retraining time from seconds to milliseconds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If a full training sequence is used to re-establish a lost communication link, then all transceiver parameters are updated, but processing resources are wasted on unnecessary calibration and auto-negotiation stages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication link re-establishmentVSAvoidprocessing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the unnecessary calibration stage, auto-negotiation stage, and power backoff stage from the full training sequence. By taking out only the essential parameter training stage and using previously stored calibration data and negotiation results, the system avoids wasting processing resources on redundant operations while still achieving reliable link re-establishment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies preliminary action by performing calibration and auto-negotiation once during initial system setup and storing the results. When a link loss occurs, these preliminary actions are not repeated instead, the system directly proceeds to parameter training using the pre-stored calibration data, thereby improving processing efficiency without compromising link reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If decision-directed parameter updates are used to track channel changes, then the receiver can adapt to slow changes, but the system fails when channel changes exceed the update rate capability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparameter tracking capabilityVSAvoidcommunication link stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements periodic action by using fast retraining sequences triggered at specific intervals or when link quality degrades below a threshold. This periodic retraining using PAM-2 and PAM-16 training signals ensures that parameters are updated regularly to track channel changes, maintaining both adaptability and link stability even when changes exceed the normal decision-directed update rate capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS8320411B1Fast retraining for transceivers in communication systems

Publication Date: 2012.11.27 MARVELL ASIA PTE LTD

AI summary

Fast retraining of communication parameters for a transceiver in a communication network. In one aspect, it is determined that the transceiver has lost the communication link for data communication, and the transceiver receives a signal providing a fast retraining sequence that updates transceiver parameters in order to reacquire the link for the data communication. The fast retraining sequence is performed in a reduced time relative to a full training sequence used for initializing the parameters for data communication by the transceiver.