Increasing data throughput in optical fiber transmission systems

An optical transmitter for generating an optical fiber communication signal for transmission over an optical fiber, the optical transmitter comprising:

• a symbolizer for receiving an input data signal comprising a series of pulses, each pulse having one of two distinct pulse levels, wherein the symbolizer is operative to convert n pulses from the input data signal into an error resistant n-bit output word, and further operative to generate an output symbol representing one of 2n distinct values, and
• an optical source for transmitting an output signal comprising at least one optical symbol over the optical fiber, each optical symbol represented by one of 2n optical intensity levels;
• and
• wherein the symbolizer further comprises a linearizer circuit operative to introduce a corrective offset in the output signal to counteract a nonlinear response associated with the optical source.

A method for increasing the data throughput of an existing optical fiber communication system without replacing an optical fiber plant associated with the existing optical fiber communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

• replacing an existing transmitter with an upgrade transmitter having a symbolizer for receiving an input data signal comprising a series of pulses, each pulse having one of two distinct pulse levels, wherein the symbolizer is operative to convert n pulses from the input data signal into an error resistant n-bit output word, and further operative to generate an output symbol representing one of 2n distinct values;
• and, the output symbol representing the n-bit output word;
• and
• replacing an existing receiver with an upgrade receiver having a desymbolizer operative to receive and decode an output signal generated by the upgrade transmitter, the output signal comprising a series of input symbols.

A method for increasing the channel data rate throughput in an optical fiber communication system while minimizing a bit error rate, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a digital input signal, comprising a series of input pulses, each input pulse having one of two pulse levels;
• creating a digital input word having n bits from the digital input signal;
• converting the digital input word to an error resistant digital input word;
• converting each error resistant digital input word to a corresponding error resistant output symbol having one of 2n distinct values;
• generating an output signal comprising a series of error resistant output symbols;
• and
• transmitting each error resistant output symbol to a receiver over a fiber optic link.

A method for increasing the channel data rate throughput in an optical fiber communication system while minimizing a bit error rate;

• the method comprising the steps of:
• receiving a digital input word having n bits;
• converting the digital input word to an error resistant digital input word;
• converting each error resistance digital input word to a corresponding error resistant output symbol representing one of 2n distinct values;
• and
• transmitting each error resistant output symbol to a receiver over a fiber optic link.