Aharmonic interleaving of forward error corrected (FEC) signals

An aharmonic interleaver adapted to interleave a plurality of sub-streams into a high-speed data signal, the aharmonic interleaver comprising means for interleaving successive blocks of data from each sub-stream into the high-speed data signal using a predetermined interleaving pattern that is different for two consecutive seqaences of N (an integer >2) blocks of data within the high-speed data signal, and at least one of the data blocks in each of the consecutive sequences originates from the same sub-stream, wherein the means for interleaving blocks from each sub-stream into the high speed data signal comprises:

• means for inverse multiplexing each one of the sub-strearns across N parallel channels;
• means for sorting blocks within cach channel in accordance with a predetermined channel sort order;
• and
• means for interleaving successive blocks from each of the channels into the high speed data signal.

A method of recovering a plurality of sub-streams aharmonicaly interleaved within a high-speed data signal, the method comprising a step of deinterleaving successive blocks of data of each sub-stream from the high-speed data signal using a predetermined deinterleaving pattern that is different for two consecutive sequences of N (an integer >2) blocks of data within the high-speed data signal, and at least one of the data blocks in each of the consecutive sequences originates from the same sub-stream, wherein the step of deinterleaving successive blocks of data of each sub-stream from the high-speed data signal comprises steps of:

• inverse-multiplexing the high speed data signal into N parallel recovered channel signals, each channel signal comprising respective blocks of each sub-stream arranged in accordance with a respective predetermined channel sort order;
• deinterleaving respective blocks of each sub-stream from each channel signal;
• and
• sorting the respective blocks of each sub-steam.

An aharmonic deinterleaver adapted to recover a plurality of sub-streams aharmonically interleaved within a high-speed data signal, the aharmonic deinterleaver comprising means for deinterleaving successive blocks of data of each sub-stream from the high-speed data signal using a predetermined deinterleaving pattern, the deinterleaving pattern being different for two consecutive sequences of N (an integer >2) blocks of data within the high-speed data signal, and at least one of the data blocks in each of the consecutive sequences originates from the same sub-stream, wherein the means for deinterleaving blocks from each sub-stream comprises:

• means for inverse-multiplexing the high speed data signal into N parallel recovered channel signals, each channel signal comprising respective blocks of each sub-stream arranged in accordance with a respective predetermined channel sort order;
• means for deinterleaving respective blocks of each sub-stream from each channel signal;
• and
• means for sorting the respective blocks of each sub-stream.

A method of conveying data traffic through a link of a communications network the method comprising steps of:

• interleaving successive blocks of data from each one of a plurality of sub-streams into a high-speed data signal using a predetermined interleaving pattern that is different for two consecutive sequences of N (an integer >2) blocks of data within die high-speed data signal, and at least one of the data blocks in each of the consecutive sequences originates from the same sub-stream, wherein the step of interleaving successive blocks of data from each sub-stream into the high-speed data signal comprises steps of:
• inverse-multiplexing each one of the sub-streams across N channels;
• sorting blocks within each channel in accordance with a predetermined channel sort order;
• and
• interleaving successive blocks from each of the channels into the high speed data signal;
• transporting the high speed data signal through the link;
• and
• deinterleaving the high speed data signal to recover the plurality of sub-streams.

A system for conveying data traffic through a link of a communications network, the system comprising:

• means for interleaving successive blocks of data from each one of a plurality of sub-streams into a high-speed data signal using a predetermined interleaving pattern that is different for two consecutive sequences of N (an integer >2) blocks of data within the high-speed data signal, and at least one of the data blocks in each of the consecutive sequences originates from the same sub-stream, wherein the means for interleaving successive blocks of data from each sub-stream into the high-speed data signal comprises:
• means for inverse-multiplexing each one of the sub-streams across N channels;
• means for sorting blocks within each channel in accordance with a predetermined channel sort order;
• and
• means for interleaving successive blocks from each of the channels into the high speed data signal,
• means for transporting the high speed data signal through the link;
• and
• means for deinterleaving the high speed data signal to recover the plurality of sub-streams.