The block coding is a technique through which much reliability is injected
into the data that is sent over the network or kept in a device. It does this by
adding extra information bits to every block of data; hence, it identifies the
errors and corrects the same if it happens to occur on the way. Because of this
added redundancy, it becomes easier to identify the problems caused by noise
or interference. Thus, applying block coding concurrently with methods of
error correction will make sure the data will arrive at the destination place
accurately. That's why block coding has become a vital component in modern
digital communication and storage systems.
What is Block Coding?
Block coding is a method used in digital electronics to encode data into a
specific format. The purpose of block coding is to add redundant information
to the data, which can be used to detect and correct errors that may occur
during transmission or storage. Block coding is often used in conjunction with
error correction codes (ECCs) to provide a more robust way of transmitting
and storing data.
Types of Block Codes
1. Hamming Codes: Hamming codes are a type of block code that can detect
and correct single-bit errors. They are commonly used in digital systems to
ensure the accuracy of transmitted data.
2. Reed-Solomon Codes: Reed-Solomon codes are a type of block code that
can correct multiple-bit errors. They are commonly used in storage
systems, such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, to ensure the integrity of stored
data.
3. BCH Codes: BCH codes are a type of block code that can correct a
specific number of errors. They are commonly used in digital
communication systems to ensure the accuracy of transmitted data.
4. Block coding can provide many benefits in digital electronics, including
improved reliability, increased data accuracy, and greater efficiency in the
transmission and storage of data. However, block coding also has some
disadvantages, including increased complexity and increased overhead in
terms of processing time and memory usage.
In summary, block coding is a method used in digital electronics to encode
data into a specific format, adding redundant information to the data to detect
and correct errors that may occur during transmission or storage. There are
several types of block codes, including Hamming codes, Reed-Solomon
codes, and BCH codes, and they offer many benefits in terms of data accuracy
and reliability, but also come with some disadvantages, such as increased
complexity and overhead.
Techniques for Conversion of Digital Data to Digital
Signal
1. Line Coding
2. Block Coding
3. Scrambling
Out of which Line coding is always needed, block coding and scrambling may
or may not be needed. Block coding helps in error detection and re-
transmission of the signal. It is normally referred to as mB/nB coding as it
replaces each m-bit data group with an n-bit data group (where n>m). Thus,
its adds extra bits (redundancy bits) which helps in synchronization at
receiver's and sender's end and also providing some kind of error detecting
capability. It normally involves three steps: division, substitution, and
combination. In the division step, a sequence of bits is divided into groups of
m-bits. In the substitution step, we substitute an m-bit group for an n-bit
group. Finally, the n-bit groups are combined together to form a stream which
has more bits than the original bits. Examples of mB/nB coding: 4B/5B (four
binary/five binary ) - This coding scheme is used in combination with NRZ-
I. The problem with NRZ-I was that it has a synchronization problem for long
sequences of zeros. So, to overcome it we substitute the bit stream from 4-bit
to 5-bit data group before encoding it with NRZ-I. So that it does not have a
long stream of zeros. The block-coded stream does not have more than three
consecutive zeros (see encoding table).
At the receiver, the NRZ-I encoded digital signal is first decoded into a stream
of bits and then decoded again to remove the redundancy bits. Drawback
- Though 4B/5B encoding solves the problem of synchronization,it increases
the signal rate of NRZ-L.Moreover,it does not solve the DC component
problem of NRZ-L. 8B/10B (eight binary/ten binary) - This encoding is
similar to 4B/5B encoding except that a group of 8 bits of data is now
substituted by a 10-bit code and it provides greater error detection capability
than 4B/5B. It is actually a combination of 5B/6B and 3B/4B encoding.The
most five significant bits of a 10-bit block is fed into the 5B/6B encoder; the
least 3 significant bits is fed into a 3B/4B encoder. The split is done to
simplify the mapping table.
A group of 8
bits can have 2^8 different combinations while a group of 10 bits can have
2^10 different combinations. This means that there are 2^10-2^8=768
redundant groups that are not used for 8B/10B encoding and can be used for
error detection and disparity check. Thus, this technique is better than 4B/5B
because of better error-checking capability and better
synchronization. Reference- Data Communications and Networking By
Behrouz A.Forouzan(Book)
Advantages of Block Coding in Digital Electronics
1. Improved Reliability: Block coding can improve the reliability of digital
systems by adding redundant information to the data, which can be used to
detect and correct errors that may occur during transmission or storage.
2. Increased Data Accuracy: Block coding can help ensure the accuracy of
transmitted or stored data by detecting and correcting errors that may
occur.
3. Greater Efficiency: Block coding can increase the efficiency of digital
systems by reducing the number of errors that occur during transmission or
storage, reducing the need for retransmission or storage.
4. Robustness: Block coding can provide a more robust way of transmitting
and storing data by detecting and correcting errors that may occur,
reducing the impact of errors on the overall system.
Disadvantages of Block Coding in Digital Electronics:
1. Increased Complexity: Block coding can increase the complexity of
digital systems, making them more difficult to design, implement, and
maintain.
2. Increased Overhead: Block coding can increase the overhead of digital
systems in terms of processing time and memory usage, reducing overall
system performance.
3. Increased Cost: Block coding can increase the cost of digital systems, as
it requires additional hardware or software to implement the error
correction and detection mechanisms.
Applications of Block Coding in Digital Electronics
Communication Systems: Block coding allows for error-free transmission
of data through the internet or even mobile networks and satellites, when it
appears interference or noise would affect it.
Data Storage: It finds its usage in storage devices ranging from hard disks
and SSDs to CDs and DVDs for ensuring that there is no loss or corruption
of data for maintaining file safety from being damaged or decaying with
time.
Optical Fiber Networks: In fiber optic cables, which transmit data as
light, block coding helps fix any errors that may occur in these long-
distance-traveling light signals.
Wireless Communication: In Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular networks-
say, 4G and 5G-block coding helps maintain your stable connection by
reducing errors caused either due to a weak signal or interference.
Digital TV and Broadcasting: It ensures that your digital TV or radio
broadcasts come through clear as should be, even if the signal is weak or
there's interference, for a smooth view or listening experience.
Video and Audio Streaming: Block coding aids in ensuring that movies,
music, and videos stream well on the internet through correcting errors
brought about by network issues or slow internet.
Security Data Transmission: This will provide an extra layer of security
since unauthorized users will face increased difficulty while decoding the
data to be transmitted.
Digital Signal Processing: Block coding ensures that when signals, either
audio or video, are digitally processed, the output is correct, even if errors
take place during the processing.
