Adaptive Dispersion Compensation in Optical Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

In high-speed optical communication networks, the continuous changes in dispersion values due to factors like temperature and network reconfigurations lead to signal degradation, necessitating adaptive dispersion compensation to maintain signal quality over long distances.

Innovation Solution

An adaptive dispersion compensation system comprising a performance detecting unit, a control processing unit, and a dispersion adjusting unit, with an information transmission unit to facilitate communication between these units located at different nodes, utilizing tunable dispersion compensators and feedback mechanisms to adjust dispersion in real-time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fixed dispersion compensator is used to compensate dispersion in traditional optical communication systems, then the residual dispersion at the receiving side can be controlled within the tolerable range, but the system cannot adapt to continuous changes in dispersion values caused by temperature, pressure, and network reconfigurations, leading to signal degradation over long distances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidadaptability to dispersion changes
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the fixed dispersion compensator into a dynamic, adjustable system. The dispersion compensator's compensation value can be continuously adjusted based on real-time detection of residual dispersion, allowing the system to adapt to changing environmental conditions and maintain signal quality over long transmission distances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by introducing a detection unit that continuously monitors the residual dispersion of optical signals and feeds this information back to the dispersion compensator. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the system to automatically adjust the compensation value to counteract dispersion changes caused by temperature, pressure, and network reconfigurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Speed

If the single channel speed is increased to 40 Gb/s to achieve higher transmission capacity, then the transmission distance is limited to about 2km due to decreased dispersion tolerance, but reducing the speed limits the system's high-speed performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission speedVSAvoiddispersion tolerance
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

For high-speed 40 Gb/s transmission, the patent uses feedback control where the detection unit monitors residual dispersion in real-time and adjusts the dispersion compensator accordingly. This allows the system to maintain signal integrity even with the reduced dispersion tolerance inherent in high-speed transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the dispersion compensation value based on detected signal characteristics. The system modifies the compensation parameter in response to changing dispersion conditions, enabling 40 Gb/s transmission over extended distances by actively managing the dispersion parameter rather than relying on fixed compensation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexing and optical cross-connect nodes are introduced to achieve intelligent network functionality, then network flexibility is improved, but the dynamic changes in optical path dispersion values cause residual dispersion to exceed tolerable ranges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork reconfigurabilityVSAvoidsignal quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

In reconfigurable optical networks, the patent employs feedback control where the detection unit continuously monitors dispersion changes resulting from dynamic add/drop multiplexing and cross-connect operations. The system adjusts the dispersion compensator in real-time to compensate for dispersion variations introduced by network reconfigurations, maintaining signal quality despite changing optical paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2104249B1A self adapting dispersion compensation system and method for optical communication network
Publication Date: 2014.07.02 ZTE CORP
  • EP2104249B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2104249B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP2104249B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

The present invention discloses an adaptive dispersion compensation system and a method used in optical communication network, comprising at least one performance detecting unit(20), for detecting the dispersion relevant performances; at least one control processing unit(30), for generating control information according to the detected information from the at least one performance detecting unit(20); at least one dispersion adjusting unit(40), for compensating dispersion according to the control information from the at least one control processing unit(30); and an information transmission unit(50) which is connected among the at least one performance detecting unit, the at least one control processing unit and the at least one dispersion adjusting unit which are located at different nodes, the information transmission unit is used for transmitting the detected information from the at least one performance detecting unit to the at least one control processing unit which is located at a different node, and is used for transmitting the control information from the at least one control processing unit to the at least one dispersion adjusting unit which is located at a different node. Under the circumstance that the units are arranged at different nodes, the adaptive dispersion compensation to multichannel system or single channel system is realized.