IP Library Granted Patent US 12,732,306
Granted Patent B2
US 12,732,306 · App. 18/916,809 · Granted Sep 8, 2026

OpenFEC error marking

Inventors: Sebastien Gareau (Ottawa, CA); Jeffery Thomas Nichols (Marietta, GA)
Assignee: Ciena Corporation
H04L1/0071H04L1/0008H04L1/0041H04L1/0045H04L1/005H04L1/0058H04L1/0061H04L27/362H04L1/0064H04L1/0082
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,732,306
App. No.
18/916,809
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus for marking errors in FlexO/ZR data includes circuitry configured to receive an Open Forward Error Correction (OFEC) block, decode a plurality of checksums in a payload area of the OFEC block, detect errors in the payload area based on the decoded plurality of checksums, and mark the detected errors in the payload area. The plurality of checksums are added during adaptation of the FlexO/ZR data to the OFEC block.

Claims (30)

1 . An apparatus for marking errors in FlexO/ZR data, the apparatus comprising circuitry configured to:

receive an Open Forward Error Correction (OFEC) block,

decode a plurality of checksums in a payload area of the OFEC block,

detect errors in the payload area based on the decoded plurality of checksums, and

mark the detected errors in the payload area.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of checksums are added during adaptation of the FlexO/ZR data to the OFEC block.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of checksums are added during adaptation of the FlexO/ZR data to the OFEC block along with padding data.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of checksums are each Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) data.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of checksums is distributed at a different location in the payload area.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of checksums and padding are used to preserve alignment of the FlexO/ZR data within the OFEC block.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of checksums is added at one of (1) within a row in the payload area and (2) an end of a row in the payload area.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a granularity of the marked detected errors is less than the payload area.

9 . A method for marking errors in FlexO/ZR data, the methods comprising steps of:

receiving an Open Forward Error Correction (OFEC) block;

decoding a plurality of checksums in a payload area of the OFEC block;

detecting errors in the payload area based on the decoded plurality of checksums; and

marking the detected errors in the payload area.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of checksums are added during adaptation of the FlexO/ZR data to the OFEC block.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of checksums are added during adaptation of the FlexO/ZR data to the OFEC block along with padding data.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of checksums are each Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) data.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of checksums is distributed at a different location in the payload area.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of checksums and padding are used to preserve alignment of the FlexO/ZR data within the OFEC block.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of checksums is added at one of (1) within a row in the payload area and (2) an end of a row in the payload area.

16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein a granularity of the marked detected errors is less than the payload area.

17 . A FlexO/ZR interface comprising:

circuitry configured to adapt the FlexO/ZR to a first Open Forward Error Correction (OFEC) block for transmission with the first OFEC blocking including a first plurality of checksums distributed throughout a payload area of the first OFEC block; and

circuitry configured to receive a second OFEC block with the second OFEC blocking including a second plurality of checksums distributed throughout a payload area of the second OFEC block, and to mark error locations based on the second plurality of checksums.

18 . The FlexO/ZR interface of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of checksums are each Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) data.

19 . The FlexO/ZR interface of claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of checksums is distributed at a different location in the payload area of each of the first OFEC block and the second OFEC block.

20 . The FlexO/ZR interface of claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of checksums is added at one of (1) within a row in the payload area of each of the first OFEC block and the second OFEC block and (2) an end of a row in the payload area of each of the first OFEC block and the second OFEC block.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 16, 2024
From: GAREAU, SEBASTIEN; NICHOLS, JEFFERY THOMAS
To: CIENA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 068908/0853 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 18036636 · Nov 2, 2021
Continuation 17147596 · Jan 13, 2021
Provisional Application 63113829 · Nov 14, 2020
Related Publication 20250038888A1 · Jan 30, 2025
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