Forward error correction is a method of data transmission that allows receivers to detect and repair errors without communication with the transmitter. Redundant data is added to the message, and if there is a problem, the recipient uses this data to correct the corrupted information. This method can reduce system loads, but designers must balance the amount of extra data added to avoid overloading the system. Research on this topic has been ongoing since the early 20th century.
Forward error correction is a method of data transmission that allows receivers to automatically detect and repair many types of errors in information. The process does not require communication with the transmitter. Instead, receivers handle errors themselves whenever possible. In situations where data becomes irreparably damaged, it may be necessary to request a retransmission to obtain a clean copy to use.
The process starts with the sender, who adds a few extra bits to the message. The nature of redundant data can vary, depending on the approach used to add data; some options include algebraic coding, Viterbi decoding algorithm, and convolutional coding. These create a pattern that the recipient can recognize and use to control the rest of the data.
If the transmission is clean, the check will show that there are no errors and the recipient can hand over the data to the user. If there is a problem, the recipient uses forward error correction to compare the known redundant data with the apparently corrupted information and uses this analysis to correct the corrupted data and generate output for the user. If the recipient fails to correct the error, it may indicate that the data is too corrupt or it may include blank spots where the information could not be restored.
An advantage of error correction forwarding is that a transmitter can send a burst of data to all available receivers, all at once. Receivers need no handshake with the transmitter and are not tied to responses to its transmissions. It can also reduce loads on the system, as requests to resend data can quickly consume bandwidth and delay other transmissions. Adding redundant information to broadcasts, however, can also hog bandwidth. Designers need to take this into account when developing a forward error correction technique because they want to send enough extra data for the receivers to use, without overloading the system.
A basic framework for forward error correction technology has existed since the early 20th century, with radio transmissions. Considerable research was done on this topic in the 1920s and 1940s. Companies continue to develop new ways to efficiently transmit accurate data with the lowest bandwidth load possible. Bandwidth demands are increasing in many regions, which means this can be an important consideration in broadcast algorithms.
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