Methods and apparatus for error rate estimation
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorColin Whitby-Strevens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for estimating received error rates. In one embodiment, the estimation of received error rates is conducted in relation to a bus interface such as a high-speed High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) interface, and the method utilizes corrupted symbols that violate TMDS symbol rules, the corrupted symbols being easily detected and counted. In one exemplary implementation, a symbol error rate (SER) can be estimated from the number of detected invalid symbols. The SER can be used to diagnose the performance of the HDMI interface, and optionally as a basis for selecting or implementing corrective action(s).
Claims23
A method for estimating received error rates, comprising:
- identifying a set of invalid symbols based on a first operational mode and a second operational mode;
- determining a likelihood of detecting an invalid symbol in the first operational mode;
- detecting one or more received invalid symbols in the first operational mode;
- and
- estimating a number of symbol errors in the second operational mode, based at least in part on the detected one or more received invalid symbols and the determined likelihood in the first operational mode.
An apparatus for estimating a rate of symbol errors, the apparatus comprising:
- one or more interfaces, the one or more interfaces configured to receive data communication from an upstream device;
- and
- at least one controller in operative communication with the one or more interfaces, the at least one controller configured to:
- detect one or more valid-invalid error symbols received over the one or more interfaces;
- determine a probability of an occurrence of one or more valid-valid error symbols;
- and
- estimate a number of symbol errors based at least on the detected one or more valid-invalid error symbols and the determined probability.
A method of accounting for undesired errors over a data interface, the method comprising:
- receiving one or more symbols during an operational mode selected from a plurality of operational modes;
- determining an invalidity of the received one or more symbols based at least in part on a set of rules associated with the selected operational mode, where the set of rules are further configured to limit types of symbols which can be used with the selected operational mode;
- determining a likelihood of detecting an invalid symbol in a different operational mode;
- and
- tracking an estimated number of total invalid symbols of the one or more symbols based at least in part on the determined invalid one or more symbols and the determined likelihood.
A method for estimating received error rates, comprising:
- identifying a set of invalid symbols based on one or more operational modes;
- determining a likelihood of detecting an invalid symbol;
- detecting one or more received invalid symbols;
- and
- estimating a number of symbol errors, based at least in part on the detected one or more received invalid symbols and the determined likelihood;
- where the estimating received error rates is conducted relative to a high-speed bus interface.
An apparatus for estimating a rate of symbol errors, the apparatus comprising:
- one or more interfaces, the one or more interfaces configured to receive data communication from an upstream device;
- where at least one of the one or more interfaces are compliant with a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) standard;
- and
- at least one controller in operative communication with the one or more interfaces, the at least one controller configured to:
- detect one or more invalid symbols received over the one or more interfaces;
- determine a probability of an occurrence of one or more undetectable invalid symbols;
- and
- estimate a number of symbol errors based at least on the detected one or more invalid symbols and the determined probability.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.