Diversity coding for transparent self-healing communications networks
US5007067A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 1989 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 29, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L25/4908
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
This invention is a technique for the substantially instantaneous self-healing of digital communications networks. Digital data streams from each of N nearby sources are combined and encoded to produce N+M coded data streams using a coding algorithm. The N+M coded data streams are then each transmitted over a separate long haul communications link to a decoder where any N of the N+M coded data streams can be decoded uniquely to produce the original N data streams. The orginal N data streams are then distributed to their respective separate end destinations. If any M or less of the N+M long haul communications links fails, i.e. as in a telephone line that gets cut or a long distance switch that fails, no rerouting of traffic need be done. Rather, the receiver detects loss of carrier on the failed link(s), and immediately supplies the missing data by decoding the data from the at least N remaining links. The technique overcomes a long felt problem of trying to reroute traffic by using sophisticated resource allocation techniques when a communications link fails.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.