Real-time modification of waveform characteristics in arbitrary waveform generator

1. An arbitrary waveform generator (AWG), comprising:

a real-time digital signal processor (DSP) configured to process a stream of waveform data based on current values of processing parameters;

a DSP memory configured to store information related to the processing parameters; and

an update component configured to update in real-time the current values of the processing parameters based on the information stored in the DSP memory, wherein the real-time DSP comprises a plurality of digital multipliers and digital delay elements, and the current processing parameter values comprise coefficients that govern operation of the multipliers or digital delay elements.

2. The AWG of claim 1 , further comprising:

a real-time encoder configured to encode information bits in accordance with current values of encoding parameters to produce the stream of waveform data; and

an encoder memory configured to store information related to the encoding parameters,

wherein the update component is further configured to update in real-time the current values of the encoding parameters based on the information stored in the encoder memory.

3. The AWG of claim 2 , wherein the real-time encoder encodes the information bits in a modulated format.

4. The AWG of claim 3 , wherein the modulated format is a radio frequency or optical transmission format.

5. The AWG of claim 1 , wherein the real-time DSP processes the stream of waveform data to introduce or modify impairments in the stream of waveform data.

6. The AWG of claim 5 , wherein the impairments comprise polarization rotation or phase noise.

7. The AWG of claim 5 , wherein the update component updates in real-time the current values to change the impairments to be introduced or modified by the real-time DSP.

8. The AWG of claim 1 , wherein the stream of waveform data comprises a synthesized waveform stored in the AWG.

9. The AWG of claim 1 , wherein the real-time DSP comprises a plurality of digital multipliers and digital delay elements, and the current processing parameter values comprise coefficients that govern operation of the multipliers or digital delay elements.

10. The AWG of claim 1 , wherein the update component updates coefficients stored in the DSP memory and loads the updated coefficients to the real-time DSP in real time.

11. A method of operating an arbitrary waveform generator (AWG), comprising:

operating a real-time digital signal processor (DSP) to process a stream of waveform data based on current values of processing parameters;

operating a DSP memory to store information related to the processing parameters; and

operating an update component to update in real-time the current values of the processing parameters based on the information stored in the DSP memory wherein the real-time DSP comprises a plurality of digital multipliers and digital delay elements, and the current processing parameter values comprise coefficients that govern operation of the multipliers or digital delay elements.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

operating a real-time encoder to encode information bits in accordance with current values of encoding parameters to produce the stream of waveform data; and

operating an encoder memory configured to store information related to the encoding parameters; and

further operating the update component to update in real-time the current values of the encoding parameters based on the information stored in the encoder memory.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the real-time encoder encodes the information bits in a modulated format.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the modulated format is a radio frequency or optical transmission format.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the real-time DSP processes the stream of waveform data to introduce or modify impairments in the stream of waveform data.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the impairments comprise polarization rotation or phase noise.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the update component updates in real-time the current values to change the impairments to be introduced or modified by the real-time DSP.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the stream of waveform data comprises a synthesized waveform stored in the AWG.

19. An arbitrary waveform generator (AWG), comprising:

a real-time digital signal processor (DSP) configured to process a stream of waveform data based on current values of processing parameters;

a DSP memory configured to store information related to the processing parameters;

an update component configured to update in real-time the current values of the processing parameters based on the information stored in the DSP memory;

a real-time encoder configured to encode information bits in accordance with current values of encoding parameters to produce the stream of waveform data; and

an encoder memory configured to store information related to the encoding parameters, wherein the update component is further configured to update in real-time the current values of the encoding parameters based on the information stored in the encoder memory.

20. The AWG of claim 19 , wherein the real-time encoder encodes the information bits in a modulated format.

21. The AWG of claim 20 , wherein the modulated format is a radio frequency or optical transmission format.

22. The AWG of claim 19 , wherein the real-time DSP processes the stream of waveform data to introduce or modify impairments in the stream of waveform data.

23. The AWG of claim 22 , wherein the impairments comprise polarization rotation or phase noise.

24. The AWG of claim 22 , wherein the update component updates in real-time the current values to change the impairments to be introduced or modified by the real-time DSP.

25. The AWG of claim 19 , wherein the stream of waveform data comprises a synthesized waveform stored in the AWG.

26. The AWG of claim 19 , wherein the real-time DSP comprises a plurality of digital multipliers and digital delay elements, and the current processing parameter values comprise coefficients that govern operation of the multipliers or digital delay elements.