DWDM Capacity Changes via Iterative Amplifier Gain Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible spectrum DWDM networks face challenges in capacity changes due to non-linear characteristics of optical components, leading to significant power offsets on in-service channels, which can disrupt signal quality and traffic.
Innovation Solution
The method involves analyzing power offsets, defining a step size to limit capacity changes, and iteratively adjusting amplifier gains to compensate for offsets, allowing for incremental channel additions or deletions in flexible or fixed grid spectra, using WSS-based ROADMs and other architectures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If flexible spectrum channels are added or deleted in DWDM networks, then network capacity adaptability is improved, but power offsets on in-service channels increase due to non-linear optical component characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The capacity change process is divided into multiple iterative steps. In each iteration, the controller adjusts channel power levels in small increments rather than making large changes at once. This segmentation of the capacity change process allows the system to progressively adapt while minimizing cumulative power offsets on in-service channels through controlled incremental adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously monitors power levels of in-service channels during capacity changes and uses this feedback information to adjust subsequent iterations. By analyzing the impact of each capacity change on existing channels and using this information to guide further adjustments, the system minimizes power offsets while achieving the desired network capacity adaptation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If capacity changes are performed iteratively with small step sizes, then power offsets on in-service channels are minimized, but capacity change timing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The step size for capacity changes is dynamically adjusted based on the current state of the network and the iteration number. The controller analyzes whether to use smaller or larger step sizes at different stages of the iterative process, optimizing the balance between minimizing power offsets and reducing overall change time. This dynamic adaptation allows faster convergence while maintaining power level stability.
3Reliability
If amplifier gains are adjusted in each iteration to compensate for offsets, then signal quality of in-service channels is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The amplifier gain adjustment process is automated through the controller, which self-manages the compensation of power offsets. The system automatically analyzes the impact of capacity changes on in-service channels and executes the necessary gain adjustments without manual intervention. This self-service approach maintains signal quality while avoiding the complexity of manual amplifier management.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, a controller, and an optical section include performing an analysis to determine an amount of power offset on any in-service channels in an optical section due to a capacity change with a channel; defining a step size to ensure the capacity change does not exceed an offset limit based on the analysis; performing the capacity change in one or more iterations using the step size to limit the capacity change; and performing an optimization between each of the one or more iterations to adjust amplifier gains in the optical section to compensate for offsets on the in-service channels caused by a previous iteration.