Concurrent ONT and OLT Upgrade for PON Service Restoration

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In passive optical network (PON) systems, the sequential upgrading of optical line terminals (OLT) and optical network terminals (ONT) causes multiple and prolonged service interruptions, degrading user experience due to separate reset processes.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a concurrent upgrade method where the ONT and OLT are upgraded and reset simultaneously, triggered by specific events such as the loss of downstream optical signal or a concurrent upgrade message, using preloaded upgrade programs to minimize service disruption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sequential upgrading of ONT and OLT is performed, then upgrading can be completed systematically, but service interruption time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystematic upgrade completionVSAvoidservice interruption time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the upgrade processes of ONT and OLT into a concurrent operation. The OLT sends a first upgrade message to the ONT, and both devices perform upgrading and resetting simultaneously rather than sequentially. This combining of previously separate operations reduces the total service interruption time while maintaining systematic upgrade completion through coordinated message exchange and synchronized reset execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If independent upgrading of ONT and OLT is performed, then each device can be upgraded separately, but the quantity of service interruptions increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent device upgradingVSAvoidquantity of service interruptions
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines independent ONT and OLT upgrades into a single coordinated operation. The OLT initiates the process by sending an upgrade message to the ONT, both devices load their respective upgrade programs, and then both perform resetting concurrently. This merging reduces the quantity of service interruptions from two separate events to one combined event, while preserving the independence of each device's upgrade process through separate program loading and execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Loss of time

If concurrent upgrade with synchronized reset is performed, then service interruption time is reduced, but coordination complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice interruption durationVSAvoidupgrade coordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the OLT send an upgrade message to the ONT before both devices perform resetting. The ONT receives and processes this message in advance, preparing its upgrade program while the OLT also prepares its upgrade. This preliminary coordination through message exchange simplifies the subsequent concurrent reset operation, reducing the perceived complexity during the actual upgrade execution while achieving reduced service interruption time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3079279B1Method and device for upgrading system
Publication Date: 2019.02.20 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3079279B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3079279B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3079279B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a system upgrade method and device, which can reduce a quantity and a time of service interruptions when an ONT and an OLT are upgraded. The method includes: detecting an upgrade triggering event, where the upgrade triggering event is used to instruct an optical network terminal ONT and an optical line terminal OLT to perform a concurrent upgrade; resetting the ONT to activate a preloaded ONT upgrade program; and restoring a service with the OLT. According to the embodiments of the present invention, an ONT and an OLT basically concurrently or synchronously perform upgrading and resetting, that is, a concurrent upgrade, so that a quantity and a time of service interruptions caused when the ONT and the OLT are upgraded are reduced, thereby improving user experience.