Variable-BER Communication Links for Power-Efficient Data Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication protocols assume a fixed bit error rate (BER), which fails to accommodate varying reliability requirements of different applications, leading to inefficient performance and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a communication link that can operate with variable BERs, allowing for adaptive communication modes based on application-specific requirements, optimizing performance and power usage by enabling relaxed BER modes for certain data transfers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed BER is used for all communications, then protocol integrity is maintained, but performance and power efficiency are reduced for applications with lower reliability requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic BER adjustment where the communication system transitions from fixed BER to variable BER based on real-time application requirements. The protocol engine dynamically selects appropriate BER levels (e.g., 10^-15 for protocol data, 10^-3 for application data) and configures the physical layer accordingly, allowing the system to adapt its error tolerance to match the actual needs of different data types and applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different BER requirements to different portions of the communication stream. Protocol control data maintains strict low BER (10^-15) for integrity, while application-specific data can operate at higher BER (10^-3 to 10^-9) when reliability is less critical. This local differentiation allows each data type to operate at its optimal BER level rather than forcing a uniform standard across all communications.
2Reliability
If forward error correction is applied to achieve low BER, then reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the BER parameter dynamically based on application requirements. For applications that can tolerate higher error rates, the system increases the acceptable BER from 10^-15 to 10^-3 or higher, which directly reduces or eliminates the need for power-intensive forward error correction coding. The physical layer parameters including signaling rate and encoding are adjusted accordingly to match the target BER level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies error correction selectively rather than universally. Full forward error correction is applied only to protocol control data where reliability is critical, while application data receives reduced or no error correction when operating at higher BER levels. This partial application of error correction minimizes the overall power consumption while maintaining adequate reliability for critical functions.
3Productivity
If higher signaling rate is used to increase data throughput, then productivity is improved, but BER increases leading to more errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic coupling between signaling rate and BER target. When the signaling rate is increased to boost throughput, the system simultaneously adjusts the target BER upward (e.g., from 10^-15 to 10^-3) and modifies the physical layer configuration accordingly. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to operate at higher speeds without being constrained by the need to maintain extremely low BER, effectively decoupling throughput optimization from error rate penalties.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes: a transmitter to receive application-specific data and protocol information and to send the application-specific data and the protocol information to a destination circuit via a link; and a protocol engine coupled to the transmitter, where the protocol engine is to cause the transmitter to send the application-specific data according to a first bit error rate (BER) and send the protocol information according to a second BER, the first BER greater than the second BER. Other embodiments are described and claimed.