Adaptive Pre-FEC BER Threshold Adjustment for Optical Signal Degradation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical communication systems face challenges in promptly detecting and preventing signal degradation, leading to potential traffic loss due to the inability to adaptively determine and trigger protection mechanisms effectively.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a processor and memory that receives pre-FEC bit error rate values from an optical transponder to identify signal degradation patterns, adaptively adjust thresholds, and trigger traffic rerouting to a secondary transmission path when specific error rate conditions are met, minimizing traffic loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If protection mechanisms are triggered based on fixed BER thresholds, then traffic loss is prevented, but false alarms increase and reduce system availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic threshold adjustment by continuously monitoring the BER trend and adapting the threshold values based on the observed signal degradation patterns. Instead of using fixed thresholds, the system dynamically modifies the first and second BER thresholds to match the actual channel conditions, thereby reducing false alarms while maintaining reliable traffic loss prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter values of BER thresholds based on the signal pattern analysis. By analyzing the temporal behavior of BER values and identifying degradation patterns, the system adjusts the threshold parameters adaptively, allowing the same protection mechanism to work effectively across varying channel conditions without generating false alarms.
2Reliability
If early detection of signal degradation is implemented, then traffic loss is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements early detection by continuously monitoring BER values before actual traffic loss occurs. The system uses preliminary analysis of BER trends to predict potential failures and triggers protection mechanisms in advance, reducing traffic loss while managing complexity through efficient use of existing BER measurement capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where the monitored BER values are fed back into the decision-making process. The continuous feedback loop allows the system to adaptively adjust thresholds and trigger protection mechanisms at optimal moments, achieving early detection without requiring overly complex external monitoring systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If adaptive threshold adjustment is implemented, then false alarms are reduced, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic sampling and analysis of BER values to determine signal patterns and adjust thresholds. By using periodic action rather than continuous adjustment, the system reduces processing time while still achieving adaptive threshold adjustment that minimizes false alarms. The periodic nature allows for efficient batch processing of BER data.
Data Source
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AI summary
In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises a memory and a processor operatively coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to receive, from a forward error correction (FEC) decoder of an optical transponder, a first plurality of pre-FEC bit error rate (BER) values at a plurality of times to identify a degradation over a first transmission path. The processor is configured to determine, based on the first plurality of pre-FEC BER values, a signal pattern. The processor is configured to adjust, based on the signal pattern, a set of parameters including a first threshold and a second threshold. The processor is configured to send, in response to a second pre-FEC BER value exceeding the second threshold and being below the first threshold, a signal to trigger traffic rerouting to a second transmission path to reduce traffic loss due to the degradation over the first transmission path.