Adaptive forward error correction system and method

An adaptive forward error correction protocol for use in an asynchronous transfer mode communication network, comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining whether a feasibility condition is met based on indicating that forward error correction can compensate for an expected number of burst errors in a forward error correction encoded payload;
• (b) performing forward error correction on protocol data units within the payload to form a forward error correction encoded payload only when the feasibility condition is met;
• (c) sending the forward error correction encoded payload along with a corresponding predetermined overhead parameter on a virtual circuit from a source service application point to a destination service application point in the asynchronous transfer mode communication network, the predetermined overhead parameter representing a ratio of forward error correction protocol data units needed to correct the expected number of burst errors in the forward error correction encoded payload to other protocol data units in the forward error correction encoded payload;
• and
• (d) receiving the forward error correction encoded payload along with the corresponding predetermined overhead parameter on the virtual circuit at the destination service application point in the asynchronous transfer mode communication network, performing forward error correction to correct burst errors in the forward error correction encoded payload such that overall protocol data unit loss on the asynchronous transfer mode communication network is reduced.

An adaptive forward error correction sending unit for use in an asynchronous transfer mode communication network, comprising:

• (a) feasibility means for determining whether a feasibility condition is met indicating that forward error correction can compensate for an expected number of burst errors in a forward error correction encoded payload;
• (b) determining means, operatively coupled to the feasibility means, for determining an overhead parameter representing a ratio of forward error correction protocol data units to protocol data units in the forward error correction encoded payload needed to correct the expected number of burst errors in the forward error correction encoded payload;
• and
• (c) forward error correction means, operatively coupled to the feasibility means and the determining means, for performing forward error correction coding on protocol data units within the payload based on the overhead parameter to form a forward error correction encoded payload only when the feasibility condition is met.

An adaptive forward error correction sending unit for use in an asynchronous transfer mode communication network, comprising:

• (a) feasibility means for determining whether a feasibility condition is met indicating that a protocol data unit loss probability between connection service application points for a payload is greater than an effective protocol data unit loss probability for the payload with associated forward error correction protocol data units at a given load on the communication network;
• (b) determining means, operatively coupled to the feasibility means, for determining an overhead parameter representing a ratio of forward error correction protocol data units to other protocol data units in a forward error correction encoded payload needed to correct burst errors;
• and
• (c) forward error correction means, operatively coupled to the feasibility means and the determining means, for performing forward error correction coding on protocol data units within the payload based on the overhead parameter to form a forward error correction encoded payload only when the feasibility condition is met.

A device-implemented method for determining an overhead parameter for adaptive forward error correction in a communication network which multiplexes connections between multiple nodes, comprising the steps of:

• (a) obtaining a protocol data unit loss probability between connection service application points for a payload at a time that the payload is to be sent;
• (b) obtaining a load on the communication network between connection service application points for a payload at a time that the payload is to be sent;
• (c) determining a rate of change of the obtained protocol data unit loss probability with respect to the obtained load on the communication network;
• and
• (d) deriving an overhead parameter for forward error correction of a particular payload to be sent as a function of the obtained protocol data unit loss probability, the obtained load, and the determined rate of change.