Diversity coding: using error control for self-healing in communication networks

An error-control-based approach, called diversity coding, that provides nearly instantaneous self-healing digital communication networks is presented. This is achieved by constructing an error-correcting code across logically independent channels and by treating link failures within the framework of an erasure channel model. Diversity coding is more efficient than previous approaches to self-healing communication networks since it is nearly instantaneous, is transparent to the end user, minimizes the required extra capacity, and does not need rerouting, resynchronization, or a feedback channel. It is applicable to both circuit-switched and packet-switched networks and to a wide variety of network topologies. Diversity coding can be extended to provide protection from short-duration environmental disruptions, such as multipath fading in radio networks and polarization dispersion in fiber-optic networks, or, in conjunction with previous error detection schemes, to provide forward error correction for random and burst errors.