Optimized Coding and Protocols for Free-Space Optical Communications Links Navy SBIR FY2008.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2008.1 Topic No.: N08-072 Topic Title: Optimized Coding and Protocols for Free-Space Optical Communications Links Proposal No.: N081-072-1109 Firm: TrellisWare Technologies, Inc. 16516 Via Esprillo Suite 300 San Diego, California 92127-1708 Contact: Cenk Kose Phone: (858) 753-1632 Web Site: www.trellisware.com Abstract: TrellisWare proposes a coding and protocol solution for free-space optical communication links comprising a hybrid-ARQ inspired protocol built around TrellisWare's Flexible Low-Density Parity-Check (F-LDPC) FEC technology. The F-LDPC code family supports incremental redundancy and offers excellent performance across an unparalleled range of rates, block sizes, modulation types, and channel conditions. Furthermore, the F-LDPC family supports highly flexible, low complexity encoding/decoding architectures. This effort will be supported by a partnership with Northrop Grumman Space Technology (NGST) that will allow us access to their optical communications analysis and systems engineering expertise, optical channel models and statistics libraries, and laser communications transmitter and receiver development expertise. Benefits: Free-space optical links have been proposed for solving the "last mile problem" in urban terrestrial broadband networks due to their inherent high achievable data rates and the ability to deploy lightweight optical transceivers. The use of coding and protocols to combat atmospheric and boundary layer scintillation effects in such links offers the potential of higher throughput and increased link reliability. The development of an optimized coding and protocol scheme for FSO links will be the first step in TrellisWare's entry into the commercial optical communications market. By leveraging our partnership with Northrop Grumman Space Technology, as well as our significant expertise in baseband signal processing hardware implementation, we are confident that the proposed coding and protocol solution will eventually migrate to the aforementioned important commercial applications. Return