Systems and methods for transition encoding compatible PAM4 encoding

A method comprising:

• generating, by a first encoder, a first stream of first bits by applying transition encoding to first input bits provided to the first encoder based on a transition key;
• generating, by a bit generator, a second stream of second bits based on second input bits provided to the bit generator;
• and
• generating, by a Pulse-Amplitude Modulation 4-Level (PAM4) transmitter, PAM4 symbols based at least on the first stream of first bits received by the PAM4 transmitter,
• wherein the first stream of first bits comprises half an amount of bits comprising the transition key and encoded data bits, and the second stream of second bits comprises a remaining half of the bits comprising the transition key and the second input bits.

A transition encoding compatible PAM4 encoder, comprising:

• a first transition encoder configured to receive first input bits and generate a transition encoded first stream of first bits by applying transition encoding to the first input bits based on a transition key;
• a bit generator configured to receive second inputs bits and generate a second stream of second bits based on the second input bits;
• and
• a Pulse-Amplitude Modulation 4-Level (PAM4) transmitter configured to receive the first stream of first bits and the second stream of second bits, and generate PAM4 symbols, wherein a most significant bit of the PAM4 symbol is based on the first stream of first bits, and a least significant bit of the PAM4 symbol is based on the second stream of second bits,
• wherein the first stream of first bits comprises half an amount of bits comprising the transition key and encoded data bits, and the second stream of second bits comprises a remaining half of the bits comprising the transition key and the second input bits.