All-Optical Transmission for Transparent User Signal Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional telecommunications networks require electrical processing of optical signals at access nodes and central offices, leading to inefficient optical data transmission and inability to transmit user-defined optical signals transparently between locations.

Innovation Solution

The method involves using an all-optical transmission approach within the telecommunications network, maintaining the optical modulation scheme throughout the transmission path, and employing optical safety and policy entities to ensure secure and transparent transmission of user-defined optical signals between locations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electrical processing of optical signals is used at access nodes and central offices, then end-user communication services and IP connectivity can be provided, but optical data transmission efficiency deteriorates and transparent transmission of user-defined optical signals becomes impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveend-user communication service provisionVSAvoidoptical data transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the electrical processing mechanism with an optical processing mechanism. Instead of converting optical signals to electrical signals for processing and then back to optical signals, the system uses optical domain processing to directly handle and route optical signals through the network, eliminating the need for O-E-O conversion at network nodes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces optical switching elements and optical network units as intermediaries that can route optical signals without electrical conversion. These optical intermediaries enable the network to forward user-defined optical signals while maintaining their optical characteristics, thus preserving transmission efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If electrical conversion of optical signals is performed at access nodes, then network control and service provisioning are enabled, but transmission transparency and signal integrity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork control capabilityVSAvoidsignal transmission integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes electrical signal processing with optical domain control mechanisms. Network control functions are implemented through optical switching and routing elements that operate directly on optical signals, maintaining signal integrity while enabling network management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments network control functions from signal processing. Control plane functions are separated from the data plane, allowing network management to be implemented through control signals rather than electrical conversion of data signals, thus preserving signal transparency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Length of moving object

If optical-electrical-optical conversion is used for long-distance transmission, then signals can be processed and routed, but conversion losses occur and transmission efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission distanceVSAvoidconversion losses
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the optical-electrical-optical conversion process by implementing all-optical transmission. Optical signals are routed through the network using optical switching and routing elements, avoiding the energy losses associated with repeated conversion while enabling long-distance transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent maintains continuous optical signal transmission through the network without interruption for electrical conversion. The optical signal remains in the optical domain throughout the transmission path, ensuring continuous useful action and minimizing energy losses that would occur during conversion processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP4178133B1Method for providing, by means of a telecommunications network, a communication or connectivity service between a first location and at least a second location based on optical data transmission of a user-defined optical signal, broadband access network or telecommunications network, system, optical safety and policy entity or functionality or central office point of delivery, program and computer-readable medium
Publication Date: 2025.04.02 DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
  • EP4178133B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4178133B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for providing, by means of a telecommunications network, a communication or connectivity service between a first location and at least a second location based on optical data transmission of a user-defined optical signal, wherein the telecommunications network comprises a backbone network and/or an aggregation network as well as an access network, and the telecommunications network and its infrastructure being used to both -- provide end-user communication services and/or IP connectivity to a multitude of end-users connected to the access network, and -- connect the first location and the at least second location by means of at least access network infrastructure and/or aggregation network infrastructure comprising a plurality of optical network nodes, wherein the first location is linked to the telecommunications network by means of at least one first optical data transmission fiber, and wherein the second location is linked to the telecommunications network by means of at least one second optical data transmission fiber, wherein, between the first and second location, the telecommunications network comprises a transmission functionality regarding the backbone network and/or aggregation network and/or the access network that is based exclusively on optical data transmission, wherein the method comprises the following steps: -- in a first step, the user-defined optical signal is fed or input to the first optical data transmission fiber, and -- in a second step, the user-defined optical signal is received at the second optical data transmission fiber.