Embedded Communication Channel for Optical Network Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity and high technical requirements of existing optical network systems due to multiple domain conversions between electrical and optical domains lead to increased complexity, space occupation, and power consumption, as well as management challenges.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an embedded communication channel (ECC) within pluggable modules to exchange performance monitoring data and configuration data between near-end and far-end devices, reducing the need for domain conversions and enhancing traffic management functionalities such as protection switching, performance monitoring, and configuration management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple domain conversions between electrical and optical domains are implemented, then data transport functionality is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the optical transceiver functionality with the host device by integrating the optical interface directly into the host device's motherboard. This merging eliminates the need for separate transport system equipment and multiple domain conversions, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining data transport functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the optical conversion functionality from the transport system and relocates it directly into the host device. By taking out the optical interface from the transport system and embedding it in the host device, the patent reduces the number of domain conversions needed and simplifies the overall system architecture.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple domain conversions are implemented, then data transport is achieved, but space occupation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the optical transceiver functions directly into the host device's motherboard, eliminating the need for separate transport system equipment. This integration significantly reduces the physical space required for network equipment while maintaining full data transport capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple domain conversions are implemented, then data transport is achieved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the optical conversion functionality from the transport system and relocates it directly into the host device. This eliminates redundant domain conversions and the associated power consumption, as the optical interface now resides within the host device rather than requiring separate transport equipment.
4Adaptability or versatility
If transport system and host devices are separated into different device types, then functionality is distributed, but management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the optical transceiver functionality with the host device by integrating the optical interface directly into the host device's motherboard. This consolidation simplifies network management by reducing the number of different device types that need to be managed, while maintaining the distributed functionality through the integrated optical interfaces.
Data Source
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AI summary
A network comprising at least one host device (2) having an interface card (4) connected to a backplane (5) of said host device (2), wherein said interface card (4) comprises at least one cage (6) for receiving a pluggable module (1) which provides at least one embedded communication channel (ECC) which exchanges performance monitoring data (PMD) and configuration data (CD) between said pluggable module (1) and a far end device.