16b/10s coding apparatus and method

A method of transmitting digital signals in a multi-level signaling system wherein digital signals representing more than one bit of information may be transmitted at more than two signal levels on a single transmission medium, the method comprising the steps of:

• encoding digital values represented by two consecutive N-bit characters into an R-bit codeword, wherein the R-bit codeword is configured so as to reduce full swings, each of the N-bit characters being designated as either data or control information based on a Q-bit tag associated with each of the N-bit characters;
• and
• transmitting the R-bit codeword as a plurality of PAM-L symbols on the single transmission medium,
• wherein L, N, R and Q are positive integer values, and
• wherein the R-bit codeword includes a first field that corresponds to a first of the two consecutive N-bit characters and its associated Q-bit tag, a second field that corresponds to a second of the two consecutive N-bit characters and its associated Q-bit tag, and a third field provided between the first and second fields that is a function of the two consecutive N-bit characters and their associated Q-bit tags.

A method for transmitting digital signals in a multi-level signaling system wherein digital signals representing more than one bit of information may be transmitted at more than two signal levels on a single transmission medium, the method comprising the steps of:

• encoding digital values represented by sets of N bits to provide corresponding sets of P symbols, each set of P symbols being selected to provide at least one one-step transition between adjacent symbols in the set of P symbols, in a PAM-L encoding scheme;
• and
• transmitting the sets of P symbols on the single transmission line,
• wherein N and P are integer values, and L is an integer value equal to or greater than four,
• wherein the PAM-L encoding scheme corresponds to PAM-4, and
• wherein the transmitted information is capable of being represented by four different symbols respectively representing four different steps, with 00 representing a first step, 01 representing a second step, 11 representing a third step, and 10 representing a fourth step.

A method for transmitting digital signals in a multi-level signaling system wherein digital signals representing more than one bit of information may be transmitted at more than two signal levels on a single transmission medium, the method comprising the steps of:

• encoding digital values represented by sets of N bits to provide corresponding sets of P symbols, each set of P symbols being selected to provide at least one one-step transition between adjacent symbols in the set of P symbols, in a PAM-L encoding scheme;
• and
• transmitting the sets of P symbols on the single transmission line,
• wherein N and P are integer values, and L is an integer value equal to or greater than four, and
• wherein the encoding step is performed so as to achieve clock data recovery at a receiver that receives the sets of P symbols on the single transmission line.

A system for transmitting digital signals in a multi-level signaling system wherein digital signals representing more than one bit of information may be transmitted at more than two signal levels on a single transmission medium, the system comprising:

• an encoding unit configured to encode digital values represented by two consecutive N-bit characters into an R-bit codeword, wherein the R-bit codeword is configured so as to reduce full swings, each of the N-bit characters being designated as either data or control information based on a Q-bit tag associated with each of the N-bit characters;
• and
• a transmitting unit configured to output the R-bit codeword as a plurality of PAM-L symbols,
• wherein L, N, R and Q are positive integer values, and
• wherein the R-bit codeword includes a first field that corresponds to a first of the two consecutive N-bit characters and its associated Q-bit tag, a second field that corresponds to a second of the two consecutive N-bit characters and its associated Q-bit tag, and a third field provided between the first and second fields that is a function of the two consecutive N-bit characters and their associated Q-bit tags.

A system for transmitting digital signals in a multi-level signaling system wherein digital signals representing more than one bit of information may be transmitted at more than two signal levels on a single transmission medium, the system comprising:

• an encoding unit configured to encode digital values represented by sets of N bits to provide corresponding sets of P symbols, each set of P symbols being selected to provide at least one one-step transition between adjacent symbols in the set of P symbols, in a PAM-L encoding scheme;
• and
• a transmitting unit configured to transmit the sets of P symbols on the single transmission line,
• wherein N and P are integer values, L being an integer value equal to four or an integer multiple of four, and
• wherein the encoding scheme is a PAM-4 encoding scheme, in which the transmitted information is capable of being represented by four different symbols respectively representing four different steps, with 00 representing a first step, 01 representing a second step, 11 representing a third step, and 10 representing a fourth step.