Patent ID: 7081838

Claim:
A method of transmitting digital signals in a multi-level signaling system wherein digital signals representing more than one bit of information may be transmitted at more than two signal levels on a single transmission medium, the method comprising the steps of: encoding digital values represented by two consecutive N-bit characters into an R-bit codeword, wherein the R-bit codeword is configured so as to reduce full swings, each of the N-bit characters being designated as either data or control information based on a Q-bit tag associated with each of the N-bit characters; and transmitting the R-bit codeword as a plurality of PAM-L symbols on the single transmission medium, wherein L, N, R and Q are positive integer values, and wherein the R-bit codeword includes a first field that corresponds to a first of the two consecutive N-bit characters and its associated Q-bit tag, a second field that corresponds to a second of the two consecutive N-bit characters and its associated Q-bit tag, and a third field provided between the first and second fields that is a function of the two consecutive N-bit characters and their associated Q-bit tags.