Module Status Monitoring System for DWDM Optical Transmission Platform

Abstract

A module status monitoring system for a DWDM optical transmission platform includes a computer device and a plurality of DWDM optical transmission devices. The computer device includes a signal interface module and a display module. Each DWDM optical transmission device is connected to the computer device through the signal interface module. Each DWDM optical transmission device includes a main frame and a backplane. The main frame is configured to accept a plurality of service cards. The backplane is disposed on the main frame. When a service card is accepted into the main frame, the service card and the backplane form an electrical connection. The backplane is configured with a status output structure to reflect the insertion status of the service card, so that the insertion status of the service card is provided to the computer device through the signal interface module and displayed on the display module.

Description

Module Status Monitoring System for DWDM Optical Transmission Platform Technical Field

[0001] This work relates to a hot-swappable module detection technology, and in particular to a module status monitoring system for DWDM optical transmission platforms. Prior Technology

[0002] With the increasing demand for fiber optic communication, dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) optical transmission platforms have been widely used in telecommunications backbone networks and data center environments. These DWDM optical transmission platforms typically adopt a modular design, configuring multiple pluggable service cards in the mainframe rack to provide expansion capabilities for different optical channels or functional modules, and to facilitate system maintenance and equipment replacement.

[0003] In existing technologies, service cards in DWDM optical transmission devices are mostly plugged into the backplane via slots to form an electrical connection. When the service card is inserted or removed, power and signal continuity or interruption is completed. However, most of these existing devices only focus on the mechanism design of the module insertion and removal itself. Real-time monitoring of the service card insertion status often relies on backend software queries, manual inspections, or judgments through additional control modules and firmware. Specifically, some existing technologies read the service card's operating status through a management card or transmit module information back via communication protocols (such as network management protocols) for display by the management system. However, such methods are mostly software or method-level processing, requiring system polling, status judgment, or communication processes to determine whether the service card is correctly inserted. This makes it difficult to reflect the instantaneous status of the service card insertion in a timely manner, and the insertion status may not be accurately grasped in the event of system abnormalities or communication interruptions.

[0004] Furthermore, in existing DWDM optical transmission platforms, the electrical connection between the backplane and the service card is mostly used only for power supply and signal transmission. There is no dedicated structural output mechanism for the service card's insertion status, preventing the hardware from directly reflecting the service card's insertion status and providing it to external devices. Therefore, existing technologies generally lack a design that can generate and output insertion status signals from the hardware itself, and also fail to present the service card's insertion status in a real-time and intuitive manner without relying on complex software judgment. Therefore, how to maintain the modular and pluggable design of the DWDM optical transmission platform while enabling the service card's insertion status to be directly reflected and output through the structural configuration of the backplane and service card for real-time monitoring and display by external computer devices has become a pressing issue for improvement in this technical field.

[0005] Furthermore, some existing DWDM optical transmission platforms still require a complete system shutdown before service card insertion or removal can be performed during module repair or replacement, limiting equipment maintenance flexibility and increasing maintenance costs caused by system interruptions. Even if some devices have a modular design, the service card insertion status still often needs to be queried through software after system startup or manually confirmed, lacking a structured monitoring interface that can reflect the module insertion or removal in real time, thus hindering real-time monitoring of the module insertion status.

[0006] In view of this, this work addresses the shortcomings of the aforementioned prior art and future needs by proposing a module status monitoring system for a DWDM optical transmission platform. The specific architecture and implementation method are detailed below: Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide a module status monitoring system for a DWDM optical transmission platform. By setting a status output structure on the backplane of the DWDM optical transmission device, the system provides hardware feedback and output of the service card insertion status, thereby solving the problem in the prior art where the service card insertion status relies on software judgment or communication processes and cannot be grasped in real time.

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide a module status monitoring system for a DWDM optical transmission platform. By connecting multiple DWDM optical transmission devices to a computer device via a signal interface module, the service card insertion status of each DWDM optical transmission device can be centrally displayed on the computer device's display module. This solves the problem of scattered display and inconvenient management of the module insertion status of multiple devices in the prior art. The intuitive module status display also solves the problem of having to manually inspect or query the backend to confirm the module insertion status in the prior art.

[0009] The purpose of this invention is to provide a module status monitoring system for a DWDM optical transmission platform, which uses the plug-in structure of the service card and the backplane to form an electrical connection and reflect the plug-in status, so as to solve the problem that the plug-in status may not be displayed correctly due to system abnormalities or communication interruptions in the prior art.

[0010] The purpose of this invention is to provide a module status monitoring system for DWDM optical transmission platforms. By reflecting and outputting the insertion status of the service card through hardware structure, the system can still monitor the insertion status of the service card in real time during module maintenance or replacement, thereby solving the problem of insufficient maintenance flexibility caused by the need for complete machine shutdown or lack of real-time insertion status feedback in previous technologies.

[0011] To achieve the above objectives, this invention provides a module status monitoring system for a DWDM optical transmission platform, comprising: a computer device including a signal interface module and a display module, the signal interface module being connected to the display module; and a plurality of DWDM optical transmission devices, each DWDM optical transmission device being connected to the computer device via the signal interface module, each DWDM optical transmission device including: a main frame for inserting a plurality of service cards; and a backplane disposed on the main frame, wherein when a service card is inserted into the main frame, the service card and the backplane form an electrical connection, wherein the backplane is configured with a status output structure to reflect the insertion status of the service card, so that the insertion status of the service card is provided to the computer device via the signal interface module and displayed on the display module.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the back panel is provided with a plurality of first electrical contacts, each first electrical contact including at least one long terminal and one short terminal, for sequentially energizing a ground terminal and a signal terminal on the service card when inserted.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, each service card is provided with a plurality of second electrical contacts, which are used to connect with the first electrical contacts. When the service card is inserted, the second electrical contacts and the first electrical contacts form electrical contact so that the service card is electrically connected to the back panel.

[0014] According to an embodiment of this invention, the status output structure includes: a status line disposed inside the back panel to reflect an insertion status presented by an insertion status contact of the service card, wherein the insertion status contact is disposed in a second electrical contact of the service card; and at least one status output terminal disposed on the back panel and electrically connected to the status line, the status output terminal forming an insertion status signal corresponding to the insertion status, and providing the insertion status signal to the display module via a signal interface module to present the insertion status of the service card.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the host rack is provided with at least one guide slot for guiding the service card to slide into the host rack along a fixed direction and be positioned at the corresponding position on the back plate.

[0016] According to an embodiment of this invention, each service card has a pull handle to assist the user in removing the service card from the main unit rack.

[0017] According to an embodiment of this invention, the host rack is provided with at least one air duct so that when any of the service cards is removed from the host rack, the remaining inserted service cards still maintain heat dissipation airflow.

[0018] According to an embodiment of this invention, the DWDM optical transmission device and the computer equipment are housed in the same chassis, and the signal interface module is an electrical connection interface for connecting the computer equipment and the backplane.

[0019] According to embodiments of this invention, the signal interface module is at least one of a wired communication interface, an optical fiber communication interface, a serial communication interface, or an internal bus interface. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0020] Figure 1 is a block diagram of the module status monitoring system used in this invention for the DWDM optical transmission platform. Figure 2 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the module status monitoring system for the DWDM optical transmission platform. Implementation

[0021] The technical solutions of this invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this invention, not all embodiments.

[0022] It should be understood that, when used in this specification and the appended claims, the terms "comprising" and "including" indicate the presence of the described features, integrals, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components and / or collections thereof.

[0023] It should also be understood that the terminology used in this invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. As used in this invention and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0024] It should also be further understood that the term "and / or" as used in this invention specification and the appended claims means any combination of one or more of the associated listed items and all possible combinations, and includes such combinations.

[0025] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a block diagram of the module status monitoring system for a DWDM optical transmission platform according to this invention. The module status monitoring system 10 for a DWDM optical transmission platform includes a computer device 12 and a plurality of DWDM optical transmission devices 14. The computer device 12 includes a signal interface module 122 and a display module 124. In one embodiment of this invention, the signal interface module 122 may be at least one of a wired communication interface, an optical fiber communication interface, a serial communication interface, or an internal bus interface, used to provide insertion status signals for the service card 20; the display module 124 may be a liquid crystal display, a light-emitting display, a status indicator panel, or other visual display device, used to display the insertion status of the service card 20. Each DWDM optical transmission device 14 is connected to the computer device 12 via a signal interface module 122. Each DWDM optical transmission device 14 includes a main frame 16 and a backplane 18. The main frame 16 is equipped with multiple service cards 20 for insertion. The backplane 18 is disposed on the main frame 16. When a service card 20 is inserted into the main frame 16, the service card 20 will form an electrical connection with the backplane 18. The operation of each component is described in detail below.

[0026] The mainframe 16 serves as the structural body for carrying and fixing the service card 20. It has multiple slots or guide structures (not shown in the figure) inside for the service card 20 to be inserted in a predetermined direction. The slots can be used to restrict the insertion direction and position of the service card 20, so that the service card 20 can be aligned with the corresponding position on the back panel when inserted.

[0027] The backplate 18 is disposed inside the main frame 16 and fixed to a predetermined position on the main frame 16, such as the rear side or bottom of the main frame 16, so that the backplate 18 and the main frame 16 together form an integrated structural structure. In one embodiment, the main frame 16 and the backplate 18 can together constitute the main support and connection structure inside a chassis (not shown in the figure), and the chassis can further include shell components such as a top cover, a bottom cover or side panels to provide protection and heat dissipation functions; however, in other embodiments, the main frame 16 can also be an open structure, and is not limited to a completely closed chassis form.

[0028] The service card 20 is a pluggable module, and its dimensions and contact configuration correspond to the slots in the main unit 16 and the backplane 18, allowing the service card 20 to be inserted into the main unit 16. When the service card 20 is inserted into the main unit 16 through the slot, the electrical contacts on the service card 20 make electrical contact with the corresponding electrical contacts on the backplane 18, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the service card 20 and the backplane 18. Through this electrical connection, the service card 20 can obtain the necessary power or signal communication, and its insertion status can be output to the computer device 12 through a status output structure 184 on the backplane 18.

[0029] Please refer to Figure 2, which is a block diagram of another embodiment of the module status monitoring system 10 used in the DWDM optical transmission platform. A status output structure 184 and a plurality of first electrical contacts 182 are configured on the backplane 18. Each service card 20 is provided with a plurality of second electrical contacts 22. The second electrical contacts 22 can be interconnected with the first electrical contacts 182. When a service card 20 is inserted, the second electrical contacts 22 and the first electrical contacts 182 form electrical contact, so that the service card 20 is electrically connected to the backplane 18, thereby transmitting the insertion status of the service card 20 to the DWDM optical transmission device 14 via the second electrical contacts 22 and the first electrical contacts 182. Furthermore, the first electrical contact 182 includes at least one long terminal (not shown) and one short terminal (not shown), while the second electrical contact 22 also includes a ground terminal (not shown) and a signal terminal (not shown). The long terminal and the short terminal are used to sequentially connect the ground terminal and the signal terminal on the service card 20 when inserted. For example, when the service card 20 is inserted, the long terminal first contacts the ground terminal of the service card 20, and the short terminal then contacts the signal terminal of the service card, thus achieving the purpose of connecting the back panel 18 and the service card 20.

[0030] The status output structure 184 includes a status line 186 and at least one status output terminal 188. The status line 186 is located inside the back panel 18 and is connected to the electrical structure on the back panel 18. The second electrical contact 22 of the service card 20 further includes an insertion status contact 222. When the service card 20 is inserted into or removed from the host rack 16, an insertion status presented by the insertion status contact 222 is reflected via the status line 186. The insertion status contact 222 exhibits different electrical states depending on whether the service card 20 is inserted or not, without involving any active signal generation. For example, when a service card 20 is correctly inserted and the insertion status contact 222 actually contacts one of the first electrical contacts 182 on the back panel 18, the electrical state of the insertion status contact 222 is "inserted". If the insertion status contact 222 does not contact the first electrical contact 182, the electrical state of the insertion status contact 222 is "not inserted". This "inserted" and "not inserted" electrical state is the insertion state. At least one status output terminal 188 is provided on the back panel 18 and electrically connected to the status line 186, so that the electrical state corresponding to the insertion state can form an insertion status signal at the status output terminal 188. This insertion status signal serves as an output interface reflecting the insertion status of the service card 20, allowing connection to the subsequent signal interface module 122. Once the insertion status signal is generated via the status output terminal 188, it is provided to the display module 124 of the computer device 12 through the signal interface module 122, thus displaying the insertion status of the service card 20. With this structural configuration, the insertion status of the service card 20 is reflected and output by the status output structure 184 on the backplane 18, without relying on software judgment or additional control processes.

[0031] In one embodiment of this invention, the main unit rack 16 is provided with at least one guide slot (not shown) and at least one air duct (not shown). The guide slot is disposed at a corresponding position inside the main unit rack 16. Its shape, number, and configuration can be designed according to actual needs, but it at least restricts the insertion direction of the service card 20, preventing the service card 20 from shifting during insertion. Guided by the guide slot, the service card 20 slides into the main unit rack 16 along a predetermined path and is positioned at the corresponding position on the backplate 18 upon insertion, ensuring that the second electrical contact 22 on the service card 20 aligns with the first electrical contact 182 on the backplate 18 and establishes an electrical connection. Therefore, in addition to providing insertion guidance, the guide slot also helps ensure the accuracy of the insertion position of the service card 20 and the backplate 18. The airflow channel ensures that when any of the service cards 20 are removed from the mainframe 16, the remaining inserted service cards 20 still maintain airflow for heat dissipation. In this way, even if some modules are removed, the system can still maintain basic heat dissipation. This airflow channel can be formed by the internal structural configuration of the mainframe 16, such as by gaps, through holes, or voids, and its specific form is not limited to a particular structure.

[0032] In one embodiment of this invention, each service card may have a pull-out handle (not shown in the figure), which is located on the outer side or front end of the service card 20 to facilitate the user's application of force when removing the service card 20. The pull-out handle may be a protruding structure, a rotatable component, or other structural form suitable for hand application of force; its specific form is not limited to a particular style. When the service card 20 needs to be removed from the main unit 16, the user can apply force using the pull-out handle to allow the service card 20 to exit the main unit 16 along the guide groove direction, thereby reducing the risk of damage caused by directly pulling the service card 20 body or contacts. By providing a pull-out handle, the convenience and safety of the service card 20 insertion and removal operations can be improved.

[0033] Furthermore, in this invention, the DWDM optical transmission device 14 and the computer device 12 can be housed in the same chassis, forming an integrated system configuration. In this configuration, the signal interface module 122 can be an electrical connection interface for directly connecting the computer device 12 and the backplane 18 of the DWDM optical transmission device 14.

[0034] In summary, compared with previous technologies, the novel module status monitoring system for DWDM optical transmission platforms has at least the following advantages: 1. This invention uses a status output structure on the backplane to reflect and output the service card's insertion status, rather than relying on software judgment or backend communication processes. This helps to grasp the service card's insertion status in a real time and intuitively. 2. The insertion status of this invention is reflected by the insertion status contacts of the service card through the status circuitry inside the backplane, and an insertion status signal is formed at the status output terminal. The structural relationship between the status formation and output is clear, which helps to improve the reliability of the system status presentation. 3. This invention provides the insertion status of each DWDM optical transmission device to the computer device through a signal interface module, which can centrally display the insertion status of service cards of multiple devices, thus improving the problem of scattered module status and difficulty in management in previous technologies. 4. Since the service card insertion status can be directly displayed on the display module, this invention can reduce the need for manual inspections or backend queries to confirm the module status, thus helping to improve the efficiency of equipment maintenance. 5. This invention allows DWDM optical transmission devices and computer equipment to be placed in the same chassis and connected via an electrical interface, eliminating the need for additional external communication lines to transmit the insertion status, thereby improving the flexibility of system integration and simplifying cabling.

[0035] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this invention and is not intended to limit the scope of this invention. Therefore, all equivalent variations or modifications made in accordance with the features and spirit described in the claims of this invention should be included within the scope of the patent application.

[0036] 10: Module status monitoring system for DWDM optical transmission platforms 12: Computer equipment 122: Signal Interface Module 124: Display Module 14: DWDM optical transmission device 16: Mainframe rack 18: Back panel 182: First electrical contact 184: Status Output Structure 186: Status Circuit 188: Status Output Terminal 20: Service Card 22: Second electrical contact 222: Insertion Status Contact

Claims

1. A module status monitoring system for a DWDM optical transmission platform, comprising: A computer device includes a signal interface module and a display module, wherein the signal interface module is connected to the display module; The system includes a plurality of DWDM optical transmission devices, each of which is connected to the computer device via the signal interface module. Each of the DWDM optical transmission devices includes: a main frame for inserting a plurality of service cards; and a backplane disposed on the main frame. When the service cards are inserted into the main frame, the service cards are electrically connected to the backplane. The backplane is configured with a status output structure to reflect the insertion status of the service cards, so that the insertion status of the service cards is provided to the computer device via the signal interface module and displayed on the display module.

2. The module status monitoring system for a DWDM optical transmission platform as described in claim 1, wherein the backplane is provided with a plurality of first electrical contacts, the first electrical contacts including at least one long terminal and one short terminal for sequentially connecting a ground terminal and a signal terminal on the service cards upon insertion.

3. The module status monitoring system for a DWDM optical transmission platform as described in claim 2, wherein each of the service cards is provided with a plurality of second electrical contacts, the second electrical contacts being interconnected with the first electrical contacts, and when the service cards are inserted, the second electrical contacts and the first electrical contacts forming an electrical contact, so that the service cards are electrically connected to the backplane.

4. The module status monitoring system for a DWDM optical transmission platform as described in claim 3, wherein the status output structure includes: A status line, disposed inside the back panel, is used to reflect an insertion status presented by an insertion status contact of the service cards, wherein the insertion status contact is disposed in the second electrical contacts of the service cards; and at least one status output terminal, disposed on the back panel and electrically connected to the status line, the at least one status output terminal forming an insertion status signal corresponding to the insertion status, and providing the insertion status signal to the display module via the signal interface module to present the insertion status of the service cards.

5. The module status monitoring system for a DWDM optical transmission platform as described in claim 1, wherein the host rack is provided with at least one guide slot for guiding the service cards to slide in along a fixed direction and install on the host rack and position them in the corresponding position on the backplane.

6. The module status monitoring system for a DWDM optical transmission platform as described in claim 1, wherein each of the service cards has a pull handle to assist the user in removing the service cards from the mainframe.

7. The module status monitoring system for a DWDM optical transmission platform as described in claim 1, wherein the host rack is provided with at least one air duct so that when any of the service cards is removed from the host rack, the remaining inserted service cards still maintain heat dissipation airflow.

8. The module status monitoring system for a DWDM optical transmission platform as described in claim 1, wherein the DWDM optical transmission device and the computer equipment are housed in the same chassis, and the signal interface module is an electrical connection interface for connecting the computer equipment and the backplane.

9. The module status monitoring system for a DWDM optical transmission platform as described in claim 1, wherein the signal interface module is at least one of a wired communication interface, an optical fiber communication interface, a serial communication interface, or an internal bus interface.

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