Patent ID: 7451381

Claim:
A system for sending segments using different forward error correction methods on a network comprising: a plurality of network nodes forming a network; a time division multiplexed data transfer link which is divided into a plurality of time slots for transfer of one or more variable length data segments that include a data segment error detection mechanism segment and an acknowledgement segment between said plurality of network nodes on said network; wherein said plurality of network nodes includes a sending network node; said sending network node further including a dynamic forward error correction encoder which generates said one or more variable length data segments having a dynamic preamble based on the length of said one or more variable length data segments and wherein said dynamic forward error correction encoder generates a forward error correction field which size is based on the dynamic preamble; and wherein said encoder selects based upon the number of errors and the type of errors on the network of a communication channel associated with said sending network node, the error correction method and the amount of error correction to be used to adapt dynamically to changing network error conditions.