Cellular networks FEC offload
The disclosed invention presents new approach for FEC implementation as part of existing link between the PHY layer (L1) and MAC layer. In one embodiment a method for providing cellular network Forward Error Correction (FEC) offload, includes merging FEC functionality into the PHY-MAC interface including placing FEC functionality IPs inside a small form factor (SFP) transceiver and allowing configurations from the PHY controller; identifying data carrying packets; encoding/decoding of the data payload; and forwarding an encoded/decoded payload to the next layer.
1 . A cellular base station providing cellular network Forward Error Correction (FEC) offload, comprising:
a FEC functionality within an interface between a physical layer (PHY) and a media access control layer (MAC), the interface having a first side physically connected to the PHY and having a second side physically connected to the MAC, the FEC functionality further configured to perform steps including:
identifying data carrying packets;
forward error correction encoding of the data payload at the FEC functionality; and
forwarding an encoded payload to a next layer.
2 . The cellular base station of claim 1 , wherein the next layer is the PHY.
3 . The cellular base station of claim 1 , the steps further comprising decoding of a second data payload at the FEC functionality; and forwarding a decoded payload to the MAC.
4 . The cellular base station of claim 1 , wherein the FEC functionality is provided within a small form factor pluggable (SFP) form factor.
5 . The cellular base station of claim 1 , the steps further comprising identifying data carrying packets using at least one of: pattern, preamble, header, and protocol match.
6 . The cellular base station of claim 1 , further comprising a non-data payload to PHY.
7 . The cellular base station of claim 1 , the steps further comprising encoding the data payload based on a communication system definition.
8 . The cellular base station of claim 7 , wherein the communication system definition is one of: 3G turbo coding; 4G LTE low density parity check (LDPC); and 5G LDPC.
9 . The cellular base station of claim 1 , wherein the FEC functionality is implemented as an ASIC or part of an ASIC within the interface between the PHY and MAC.
10 . The cellular base station of claim 1 , wherein identifying data carrying packets further comprises the FEC functionality independently identifying data payloads based on at least one of: pattern, preamble, header, or predefined protocol.
11 . The cellular base station of claim 1 , the steps further comprising receiving FEC configurations from a PHY controller, wherein the PHY controller sets the FEC configurations in advance for a next data payload or by using dedicated identification marking of the data payload.
12 . The cellular base station of claim 1 , the steps further comprising extracting FEC configurations independently by the FEC functionality based on prior knowledge of a link protocol or standard definition.
13 . The cellular base station of claim 1 , the steps further comprising generating a message to a PHY controller with the encoded data and a header.
14 . The cellular base station of claim 1 , further comprising encapsulating the encoded data with a same header as provided from the MAC layer.
15 . The cellular base station of claim 1 , further comprising encapsulating the encoded data using a known protocol with dedicated marking in user defined fields.
16 . The cellular base station of claim 1 , further comprising bypassing the FEC functionality at the PHY layer when using the FEC functionality within the interface.
17 . The cellular base station of claim 1 , further comprising a PHY controller selectively bypassing one or more functionalities in the FEC functionality and applying the bypassed functionality on a PHY compute platform.
18 . The cellular base station of claim 1 , further comprising receiving demodulated data from the PHY encapsulated into a message for the FEC functionality.
19 . The cellular base station of claim 1 , wherein the message uses at least one of: a proprietary header, a standard header, or user fields in an existing protocol.
20 . The cellular base station of claim 1 , further comprising receiving decoding configurations from a PHY controller before receiving the data payload or in a same message with the data payload.
21 . The cellular base station of claim 1 , further comprising storing data for retransmission combining in an internal or external memory associated with the FEC functionality.
22 . The cellular base station of claim 1 , wherein memory allocated for combining is optimized to fit a retransmission percentage instead of full memory for maximum retransmission for all data payloads.
23 . The cellular base station of claim 1 , further comprising the PHY holding a copy of the data payload previously forwarded to the FEC functionality and upon CRC check fail, performing retransmission combining on the PHY layer and propagating a combined version of the payload to the FEC functionality.