Methods, systems and computer readable media for evaluating link or component quality using synthetic forward error correction (FEC)

A system for evaluating link or component quality using synthetic forward error correction (FEC), the system comprising:

• a bit sequence generator for generating a bit sequence and transmitting the bit sequence over a link or through a component under test without adding FEC to the bit sequence;
• a bit sequence checker for receiving a bit sequence transmitted over the link or through the component and for determining locations of bit errors in the received bit sequence;
• a synthetic FEC codeword/symbol boundary locator for determining locations of synthetic FEC codeword and symbol boundaries in the received bit sequence for a first synthetic FEC algorithm against which link or component quality is being evaluated;
• and
• a link/component quality metric generator for identifying symbol and codeword errors for the first synthetic FEC algorithm based on the locations of bit errors in received bit sequence and outputting an indication of link or component quality based on the symbol and codeword errors identified for the first synthetic FEC algorithm.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by a processor of a computer control the computer to perform steps comprising:

• generating a bit sequence;
• transmitting the bit sequence over a link or through a component under test without adding FEC to the bit sequence;
• receiving a bit sequence transmitted over the link or through the component;
• determining locations of bit errors in the received bit sequence
• determining locations of synthetic FEC codeword and symbol boundaries in the received bit sequence for a synthetic FEC algorithm against which link or component quality is being evaluated;
• identifying symbol and codeword errors for the synthetic FEC algorithm based on the locations of bit errors in received bit sequence;
• and
• outputting an indication of link or component quality based on the symbol and codeword errors identified for the synthetic FEC algorithm.