Equalization in high-speed data channel having sparse impulse response

A method of filtering a wireline channel medium that is divided into a total number of link segments, the wireline channel medium having filter circuitry including a plurality of filter segments, respective individual filter segments in the plurality of filter segments being configurable to correspond to respective individual link segments of the total number of link segments, the plurality of filter segments including a plurality of rover filter segments each of which is selectably configurable, by adjustment of a respective delay line, to filter a respective link segment of the total number of link segments, the method comprising:

• detecting a signal energy peak in at least one particular link segment of the total number of link segments by selectively advancing, by adjustment of a respective delay line, an unused rover filter segment of the plurality of rover filter segments through the link segments, and measuring transmission conditions of link segments of the total number of link segments as the unused rover filter segment passes through the link segments;
• and
• upon detecting the signal energy peak in a respective one of the at least one particular link segment of the total number of link segments,
• configuring a respective one of the respective individual filter segments in the plurality of filter segments to correspond to the respective one of the at least one particular link segment of the total number of link segments.

A wireline communications system, comprising:

• a wireline channel medium that is divided into a total number of link segments;
• and
• a plurality of physical layer transceivers coupled to the wireline channel medium, each respective one of the plurality of physical layer transceivers including:
• a respective host interface for coupling to a respective host device;
• a respective line interface for coupling to the wireline channel medium;
• and
• respective feed-forward equalization circuitry operatively coupled to the respective line interface to add back, into a signal, components that were scattered in time, the respective feed-forward equalization circuitry comprising:
• a plurality of filter segments, respective individual filter segments in the plurality of filter segments being selectably configurable, by adjustment of respective delay lines, to correspond to respective individual link segments of the total number of link segments, the plurality of filter segments comprises a plurality of rover filter segments each of which is selectably configurable, by adjustment of a respective delay line, to filter a respective link segment of the total number of link segments, and
• control circuitry configured to:
• detect a signal energy peak in at least one particular link segment of the total number of link segments by selectively advancing an unused rover filter segment of the plurality of rover filter segments through the link segments by adjustment of a respective delay line, and measuring transmission conditions of link segments of the total number of link segments as the unused rover filter segment passes through the link segments;
• and
• upon detection of the signal energy peak in a respective one of the at least one particular link segment of the total number of link segments, configure a respective one of the respective individual filter segments in the plurality of filter segments, by adjustment of a respective delay line, to correspond to the respective one of the at least one particular link segment of the total number of link segments.