Encoder/decoder system and methodology utilizing conservative coding with block delimiters, for serial communication

Abstract

A system for serial communications is disclosed comprising an encoder for serially outputting conservative encoded codewords responsive to a parallel data input, and a decoder for outputting, in parallel, decoded data words responsive to the serially transmitted conservative encoded codewords. The codewords are characterized in that the ratio is known between the total number of bits per codeword transmitted and the total number of transitions per codeword. The encoder transforms each m-bit parallel data work into one n-bit codeword, where n is greater than m, such that every codeword has a known number of transitions and such that one of the transitions in the codeword has a predefined position. Thereafter, the encoder converts each n-bit codeword from parallel to serial form for output onto a serial communications channel. A method is taught for conservative encoding as follows. First, identify and define the total set of q different datawords of m-bits each which can be transmitted. Next, generate all possible conservative codewords of length n bits, where n is greater than m, such that each codeword has known number of transitions, where one transition has a predefined position. Then select a subset of q different codwords from the possible conservative codewords. Finally, create a mapping of each dataword to one corresponding codword. The inverse mapping will relate each codeword to the corresponding dataword.

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