Method and apparatus for using the unused bits of a data packet

Details Method and apparatus for using the unused bits of a data packet Method and apparatus for using the unused bits of a data packet

1997-08-21

1999-08-31

Tu, Trinh L.

Error detection/correction and fault detection/recovery

Pulse or data error handling

Data formatting to improve error detection correction...

714746, G06F 1100

Patent

active

059448431

ABSTRACT:
A method and apparatus in accordance with the present invention uses the unused bits of a data packet to transmit additional information by piggy-backing "secondary" code words into a data packet containing a "primary" code word. A secondary code word may be piggy-backed into a data packet containing a primary code word when the primary code word and any secondary code words already stored in the data packet leave sufficient unused space in the data packet to store an additional secondary code word, and the route traveled by the data packet as the packet is routed to the network node addressed by the primary code passes through (or ends at) the network node addressed by the secondary code word, or passes through (or ends at) a network node that can relay the secondary code word to the network node addressed by the secondary code word. In a first embodiment, an ECC is generated for the primary code word using a predefined bit pattern (such as all 0's) for any unused bit positions in the data packet. The same predefined bit pattern is used for the unused bit positions when the integrity of the primary code word is verified at the destination. If it is desired to protect the secondary code word, a secondary ECC must also be stored in the data packet. In a second embodiment, the ECC is recalculated when a secondary code word is piggy-backed into the unused bit positions of the data packet. In this embodiment, the ECC associated with the data packet protects all data in the packet, including the primary and secondary code words.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4480307 (1984-10-01), Budde et al.
patent: 5051999 (1991-09-01), Erhart et al.
patent: 5164944 (1992-11-01), Benton et al.
patent: 5544179 (1996-08-01), Hartwell
patent: 5608738 (1997-03-01), Matsushita

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