Burst-mode to Continuous Wavelength Conversion for EPON Capacity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current Ethernet passive optical network (EPON) technologies face challenges in long-distance transmission and increasing link capacity, particularly due to overlapping wavelength bands used for 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps signals, which affect signal separation and transmission efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A continuous-mode wavelength converting apparatus and remote termination apparatus that convert burst-mode upstream electric signals into continuous-mode signals by inserting frames and idle signals, allowing for efficient separation and transmission of signals with different transfer rates, eliminating the need for costly wavelength-division multiplexing optical modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wavelength division multiplexing is used to transmit both 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps signals, then transmission capacity is improved, but device complexity increases due to overlapping wavelength bands requiring dual rate PMD techniques
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temporal parameter of signal transmission by converting burst-mode signals to continuous-mode signals with inserted frames and idle signals. This allows the system to distinguish between different transmission rates through temporal patterns rather than relying on complex wavelength division multiplexing with dual rate PMD techniques, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining transmission capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces frames and idle signals as intermediary elements between the burst-mode upstream electric signal and the continuous-mode wavelength signal. These intermediaries serve as markers that enable the receiving end to properly delimit and identify signal boundaries, eliminating the need for complex wavelength separation mechanisms
2Device complexity
If burst-mode signals are transmitted without conversion, then device complexity is reduced, but long-distance transmission capability deteriorates due to signal separation issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by converting the burst-mode upstream electric signal into a continuous-mode signal before wavelength conversion. This preliminary conversion involves inserting frames and idle signals to create continuous signal streams, which enables proper signal separation and long-distance transmission without requiring complex processing at the receiving end
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies continuity of useful action by transforming discontinuous burst-mode signals into continuous continuous-mode signals. This conversion ensures that the optical signal maintains continuous presence on the fiber, enabling long-distance transmission while simplifying the receiving end's signal separation tasks through consistent temporal patterns
Data Source
AI summary
A continuous-mode wavelength converting apparatus, a burst-mode wavelength converting apparatus, a remote termination apparatus and a central office termination apparatus for converting a burst-mode upstream wavelength signal into a continuous-mode upstream wavelength signal, and thereby transmitting the signal to a long distance and increasing link capacity. The continuous-mode wavelength converting apparatus may convert a received burst-mode upstream electric signal into a continuous-mode upstream electric signal by inserting a first frame at the front of the signal as an indicator of a start of the signal, inserting a second frame at the end of the burst-mode upstream electric signal as an indicator of an end of the signal, and inserting an idle signal into at least one remaining region of the burst-mode upstream electric signal.