Described are methods and circuits for margin testing digital receivers. These methods and circuits prevent margins from collapsing in response to erroneously received data and can thus be used in receivers that employ historical data to reduce intersymbol interference (ISI). Some embodiments detect receive errors for input data streams of unknown patterns and can thus be used for in-system margin testing. Such systems can be adapted to dynamically alter system parameters during device operation to maintain adequate margins despite fluctuations in the system noise environment due to e.g. temperature and supply-voltage changes. Also described are methods of plotting and interpreting filtered and unfiltered error data generated by the disclosed methods and circuits. Some embodiments filter error data to facilitate pattern-specific margin testing.

Described are methods and circuits for margin testing digital receivers. These methods and circuits prevent margins from collapsing in response to erroneously received data and can thus be used in receivers that employ historical data to reduce intersymbol interference (ISI). Some embodiments detect receive errors for input data streams of unknown patterns and can thus be used for in-system margin testing. Such systems can be adapted to dynamically alter system parameters during device operation to maintain adequate margins despite fluctuations in the system noise environment due to e.g. temperature and supply-voltage changes. Also described are methods of plotting and interpreting filtered and unfiltered error data generated by the disclosed methods and circuits. Some embodiments filter error data to facilitate pattern-specific margin testing.

An apparatus for generating a data stream according to an embodiment is provided. The apparatus is configured to generate the data stream, such that the data stream has header data and payload data. The apparatus is configured to generate the header data such that the header data comprises a synchronization header. Moreover, the apparatus is configured to generate the synchronization header using binary coding. Furthermore, the apparatus is configured to generate the synchronization header such that the synchronization header comprises a synchronization sequence being a predefined bit sequence having a plurality of bits.

The present application relates to a method of generating a downlink frame. The method of generating the downlink frame includes: generating a first short sequence and a second short sequence indicating cell group information; generating a first scrambling sequence and a second scrambling sequence determined by the primary synchronization signal; generating a third scrambling sequence determined by the first short sequence and a fourth scrambling sequence determined by the second short sequence; scrambling the short sequences with the respective scrambling sequences; and mapping the secondary synchronization signal that includes the first short sequence scrambled with the first scrambling sequence, the second short sequence scrambled with the second scrambling sequence and the third scrambling sequence, the second short sequence scrambled with the first scrambling sequence and the first short sequence scrambled by the second scrambling sequence and the fourth scrambling sequence to a frequency domain.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for utilizing training sequences on a replica lane are described. A transmitter is coupled to a receiver via a communication channel with a plurality of lanes. One of the lanes is a replica lane used for tracking the drift in the optimal sampling point due to temperature variations, power supply variations, or other factors. While data is sent on the data lanes, test patterns are sent on the replica lane to determine if the optimal sampling point for the replica lane has drifted since a previous test. If the optimal sampling point has drifted for the replica lane, adjustments are made to the sampling point of the replica lane and to the sampling points of the data lanes.

A method and system that provides for execution of a first calibration sequence, such as upon initialization of a system, to establish an operation value, which utilizes an algorithm intended to be exhaustive, and executing a second calibration sequence from time to time, to measure drift in the parameter, and to update the operation value in response to the measured drift. The second calibration sequence utilizes less resources of the communication channel than does the first calibration sequence. In one embodiment, the first calibration sequence for measurement and convergence on the operation value utilizes long calibration patterns, such as codes that are greater than 30 bytes, or pseudorandom bit sequences having lengths of 2.sup.N−1 bits, where N is equal to or greater than 7, while the second calibration sequence utilizes short calibration patterns, such as fixed codes less than 16 bytes, and for example as short as 2 bytes long.

A method and system that provides for execution of a first calibration sequence, such as upon initialization of a system, to establish an operation value, which utilizes an algorithm intended to be exhaustive, and executing a second calibration sequence from time to time, to measure drift in the parameter, and to update the operation value in response to the measured drift. The second calibration sequence utilizes less resources of the communication channel than does the first calibration sequence. In one embodiment, the first calibration sequence for measurement and convergence on the operation value utilizes long calibration patterns, such as codes that are greater than 30 bytes, or pseudorandom bit sequences having lengths of 2.sup.N−1 bits, where N is equal to or greater than 7, while the second calibration sequence utilizes short calibration patterns, such as fixed codes less than 16 bytes, and for example as short as 2 bytes long.

The present application relates to a method of generating a downlink frame. The method of generating the downlink frame includes: generating a first short sequence and a second short sequence indicating cell group information; generating a first scrambling sequence and a second scrambling sequence determined by the primary synchronization signal; generating a third scrambling sequence determined by the first short sequence and a fourth scrambling sequence determined by the second short sequence; scrambling the short sequences with the respective scrambling sequences; and mapping the secondary synchronization signal that includes the first short sequence scrambled with the first scrambling sequence, the second short sequence scrambled with the second scrambling sequence and the third scrambling sequence, the second short sequence scrambled with the first scrambling sequence and the first short sequence scrambled by the second scrambling sequence and the fourth scrambling sequence to a frequency domain.

A second device receives a first synchronization signal transmitted by a first device for training synchronization between the second device and the first device. The second device then transmits one or more initial synchronization response signals to the first device. The one or more initial synchronization response signals are from among a fixed number of synchronization response signals that the second device is configured to transmit to the first device. After transmission of the one or more initial synchronization response signals, the second device receives a second synchronization signal from the first device. After receiving the second synchronization signal, the second device continues transmission of synchronization response signals to the first device until the fixed number of synchronization response signals are transmitted from the second device to the first device.

Described are methods and circuits for margin testing digital receivers. These methods and circuits prevent margins from collapsing in response to erroneously received data and can thus be used in receivers that employ historical data to reduce intersymbol interference (ISI). Some embodiments detect receive errors for input data streams of unknown patterns and can thus be used for in-system margin testing. Such systems can be adapted to dynamically alter system parameters during device operation to maintain adequate margins despite fluctuations in the system noise environment due to e.g. temperature and supply-voltage changes. Also described are methods of plotting and interpreting filtered and unfiltered error data generated by the disclosed methods and circuits. Some embodiments filter error data to facilitate pattern-specific margin testing.