Communication channel optimization using forward error correction statistics

Abstract

An apparatus and method for dynamically optimizing performance in a communication channel are described. The communication channel can be part of a high-speed digital network such as the Internet and can be a dense wavelength-division multiplexed (DWDM) optical communication channel. The DWDM signal includes forward error correction (FEC) information which is added to the DWDM signal and is used within the DWDM optical layer to monitor transfer errors in the data. Error correction statistics generated as a result of analysis of the FEC information in the data in accordance with the invention are used in generating an adjustment to and/or optimizing performance of the system. An adjust signal used in generating and making the adjustment is generated using FEC error correction statistics. In one embodiment, the adjust signal is a feedback signal transferred back to the transmission end of the channel. Each DWDM signal can carry an optical or electronic time-division multiplexed (TDM) combined signal of multiple subsignals. Each subsignal can include its own FEC information. The adjustment made via the adjust signal can include adjusting power level in one or more of the subsignal transmitters. As a result, performance of the system and the network can be optimized dynamically based on an analysis of actual data transfer errors detected in the optical DWDM layer.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.