Patent ID: 7580469
Filing Date: 2009-08-25
Classification: H03M,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for communication, comprising: receiving code words of a Forward Error Correcting (FEC) code that convey data over a communication link from a transmitter to a receiver, each code word comprising multiple symbols, each symbol comprising one or more data bits that have been encoded using the FEC code; decoding the code words at the receiver using an iterative decoding process, which produces respective decoding metrics of the data bits and recovers the data from the code words using the decoding metrics; computing a single link quality metric function value for at least one of the code words by processing the respective decoding metrics of the data bits comprised in the multiple symbols that are comprised in the at least one of the code words; and assessing a condition of the communication link responsively to the single link quality metric function value.