Data encoding and decoding method for transmitting multiple redundant copies of a data packet

• US 20070133426A1
• Filed: 12/06/2005
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Micrel Incorporated (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Micrel Incorporated (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chambers, Peter
• Application Number:
  US11/295,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20070133426A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0083 Formatting with frames or packets; Protocol or part of protocol for error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/08 by repeating transmission, e.g. Verdan system H04L1/1858 and H04L1/189 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/324 in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC

Abstract

A method for transmitting information from a transmitter to a receiver over a forward only communication channel includes generating and transmitting multiple data packets at each input data event. Each data packet includes a data field having a first data portion encoding an identification code identifying the input data event where the identification code uniquely identifies at least N numbers of successive input data events. The method further includes receiving a first data packet and examining the identification code in the data field of the first data packet. If a data packet containing the same identification code has already been accepted within the last N successive input data events, the first data packet is discarded. If a data packet containing the same identification code has not been accepted within the last N successive input data events, the first data packet is accepted for processing.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting information from a transmitter to a receiver over a forward only communication channel, the method comprising:

at each input data event, generating a plurality of data packets, each data packet comprising a data field having a first data portion encoding an identification code identifying the input data event and a second data portion containing input data information, wherein the identification code uniquely identifies at least N numbers of successive input data events;

transmitting the plurality of data packets over the communication channel;

receiving a first data packet and examining the identification code in the data field of the first data packet;

determining if a data packet containing the same identification code has been previously accepted within the last N successive input data events;

if a data packet containing the same identification code has already been accepted within the last N successive input data events, discarding the first data packet; and

if a data packet containing the same identification code has not been accepted within the last N successive input data events, accepting the first data packet and processing the input data information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification code comprises an n-bit code where n is at least 1, the identification code thereby uniquely identifying at least 2ⁿ numbers of successive input data events.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein generating a plurality of data packets at each input data event comprises selecting an identification code to identify the input data event having a value between 0 and 2ⁿ−

1.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein selecting an identification code to identify the input data event having a value between 0 and 2ⁿ−

1 comprises;

selecting an identification code in sequence from 0 to 2ⁿ−

1 for each successive input data event, the identification code returning to 0 after the 2ⁿ−

1 value has been selected.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein selecting an identification code to identify the input data event having a value between 0 and 2ⁿ−

1 comprises;

selecting an identification code in random from 0 to 2ⁿ−

1 for each successive input data event.

6. A data communication system comprising:

a transmitter generating a plurality of data packets in response to an input data event for transmission over a forward only communication channel, each data packet comprising a data field having a first data portion encoding an identification code identifying the input data event and a second data portion containing input data information, wherein the identification code uniquely identifies at least N numbers of successive input data events; and

a receiver receiving one or more data packets, the receiver examining the identification code in the data field of each received data packet and determining if a data packet containing the same identification code has been previously accepted,

wherein the receiver discards received data packets containing the same identification code as that of a data packet that has been previously accepted within the last N successive input data events and the receiver accepts received data packets containing different identification codes as that of data packets that have been previously accepted within the last N successive input data events, the receiver processing the input data information of the accepted received data packets.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the identification code comprises an n-bit code where n is at least 1, the identification code thereby uniquely identifying at least 2ⁿ numbers of successive input data events.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the transmitter selects an identification code having a value between 0 and 2ⁿ−

1 to identify each input data event.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the transmitter selects an identification code in sequence from 0 to 2ⁿ−

1 for each successive input data event, the identification code returning to 0 after the 2ⁿ−

1 value has been selected.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the transmitter selects an identification code in random from 0 to 2ⁿ−

1 for each successive input data event.