Interleaver for burst error correction

Abstract

A method and apparatus for detecting the location of burst errors in serially transmitted data or reducing the susceptability to burst errors in the serially transmitted data. Successive received data words have bits selectively interleaved over a plurality of interleaved data words via burst interleave logic prior to transmitting the interleaved data words over a serial data channel. The selective bit placement assures that the bits in the original data word are spaced apart by at least a predetermined number of bits when the bits are transmitted over the serial data channel. Word framing is performed on the received serial data stream and the interleaved data words are de-interleaved. In the event of a burst error of m bits or less on the serial data channel, the burst error appears as a single bit error in each recovered data word following transmission over the data channel. An error detection code or error correction code is employed to detect or correct single bit errors in the recovered data words. In one embodiment, the interleave logic is employed in a physical coding layer employing plural serial data channels.