Ethernet Logical Channel Mapping for Multi-Rate Data Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Ethernet networks face challenges in interconnecting devices with different data transmission rates, leading to high maintenance costs due to the need for multiple boards and spare parts, as higher rates are not backward compatible.

Innovation Solution

A data transmission method that involves grouping MAC layer data, allocating logical channels based on required bandwidth, and performing encoding and decoding processes to facilitate communication across diverse Ethernet rate levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple Ethernet interface boards are designed for different rate levels (10G, 40G, 100G), then each rate level can be supported, but device complexity and maintenance costs increase due to having many different boards and spare parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport for diversified Ethernet rate levelsVSAvoidnumber of different boards and spare parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a single Ethernet interface board that can operate at multiple rate levels (10G, 40G, 100G) through dynamic rate adaptation. The physical layer device determines the transmission rate based on the capabilities of the connected device, allowing one board to replace multiple specialized boards, thereby reducing device complexity and maintenance costs while maintaining support for diversified rate levels

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Speed

If higher rate Ethernet interfaces are not made backward compatible, then transmission performance is optimized, but interoperability between different rate levels is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission rateVSAvoidinterconnection capability between different rate levels
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by implementing a dynamic rate adaptation mechanism where the physical layer device can switch between different transmission rates (10G, 40G, 100G) based on the capabilities of the connected device. This allows the system to optimize transmission speed when possible while automatically falling back to compatible lower rates when needed, thereby maintaining both high performance and broad interoperability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4266632B1Data transmission method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4266632B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4266632B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP4266632B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a data transmission method, which can meet a requirement for an Ethernet network with diversified rate levels. The method includes: performing grouping processing on at least one piece of media access control MAC layer data that comes from a MAC layer, to determine at least one MAC layer data group; allocating, according to target bandwidth required by a target MAC layer data group and preset reference bandwidth of a logical channel, at least one target logical channel from N logical channels to the target MAC layer data group, so that the target logical channel corresponds to only the target MAC layer data group; performing encoding processing on the target MAC layer data group according to the target logical channel to generate target physical layer data, where the target logical channel corresponds to only the target physical layer data; and sending the target physical layer data and first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate a mapping relationship between the target physical layer data and the target logical channel.