Coax Line Terminal Caching for Asynchronous Upstream Data Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Ethernet over Coax (EoC) technologies do not offer end-to-end Fiber to Coax scheduling for transferring upstream data from Coax Network Units (CNUs) to the Coax Line Terminal (CLT) and Optical Line Terminal (OLT) in fiber-optic networks, limiting efficient data transmission.
Innovation Solution
The proposed system includes a Coax Line Terminal (CLT) configured to cache upstream data from CNUs and forward it to the OLT upon receiving a message assigning a transmission cycle, regardless of the CNU matching the specified CNU, allowing asynchronous upstream data transmission without synchronizing with the OLT's scheduling, thus reducing costs and simplifying communications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the CLT synchronizes upstream data transmission with the OLT's scheduling, then data transmission reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to timing components
Solution Approach 1:
The CLT acts as an intermediary between the coax network and fiber-optic network, decoupling the scheduling mechanisms. It receives data from CNUs and forwards them to the OLT independently of the OLT's scheduling cycle, eliminating the need for synchronization timing components while maintaining reliable data transmission through the buffer mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the data transmission process into two independent parts: data collection from CNUs (coax network side) and data forwarding to OLT (fiber-optic network side). The CLT buffer handles the transition between these segments asynchronously, allowing each segment to operate on its own timing without requiring synchronization
2Device complexity
If the CLT caches and forwards data asynchronously without synchronizing with OLT schedule, then device complexity is reduced, but data transmission timing coordination becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The CLT buffer serves as a time-independent intermediary that collects data from CNUs regardless of the OLT's scheduling cycle. This mediator approach eliminates the need for precise timing coordination between the coax and fiber-optic networks, reducing device complexity while handling time differences through buffering
Solution Approach 2:
The CLT performs preliminary action by caching data from CNUs before the OLT's scheduled transmission time. This allows data to be prepared and stored in advance, then forwarded to the OLT when its transmission cycle arrives, eliminating the need for real-time synchronization while maintaining proper transmission timing
3Productivity
If the CLT forwards cached data regardless of CNU matching the specified CNU, then upstream data transmission efficiency is improved, but data accuracy and targeting may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The CLT uses feedback from the OLT's scheduling messages to trigger data forwarding. When the OLT sends a Gate message specifying a CNU, the CLT uses this feedback information to forward cached data, ensuring that data is transmitted efficiently while maintaining proper targeting through the feedback loop mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The CLT performs preliminary data collection and caching from multiple CNUs before the OLT's scheduled transmission. This preliminary action allows the CLT to have data ready to forward when the OLT's Gate message arrives, improving transmission efficiency while maintaining data accuracy through the buffered cached data mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for interconnecting a fiber-optic network and a coax network comprising a coax line terminal (CLT) configured to couple to an optical line terminal (OLT) at the fiber-optic network and a plurality of coax network units (CNUs) at the coax network and to cache data received from the CNUs and forward the cached data to the OLT upon receiving a message from the OLT that assigns a transmission cycle for a specified CNU, wherein the CLT forwards the cached data to the OLT upon receiving the message regardless of whether the cached data corresponds to the specified CNU.