FlexE Frame Rate Adaptation for Constant Bit Rate Services
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Ethernet technologies, such as FlexE, struggle to map Constant Bit Rate (CBR) services like OTN and SDH services due to the absence of MAC frames and idle code blocks, limiting rate adaptation and service aggregation capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A data transmission method that performs physical coding sublayer (PCS) encoding on CBR service data, inserts a rate adaptation code block, and maps the adapted bitstream to FlexE frames, including overhead information to indicate the corresponding timeslots, enabling effective rate adaptation and service mapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If FlexE is used to transmit Ethernet services, then service aggregation and rate adaptation capabilities are improved, but inability to map CBR services (OTN/SDH) limits versatility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mapping mechanism that translates CBR service data into FlexE-compatible formats. By inserting rate adaptation code blocks and using intermediate mapping structures, the system enables CBR services to be transmitted over FlexE without requiring native FlexE frame structures, thus resolving the incompatibility while maintaining both service aggregation and CBR service capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key parameters of the data transmission format by inserting rate adaptation code blocks into the bitstream and modifying the frame structure to include overhead information indicating timeslot mappings. These parameter changes enable CBR services with different bit rates to be adapted to FlexE timeslots, expanding versatility without sacrificing productivity
2Adaptability or versatility
If rate adaptation is performed using Ethernet MAC frames and idle code blocks, then rate flexibility is improved, but absence of MAC frames in CBR services prevents mapping
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring CBR services to conform to Ethernet MAC frame structures, the patent inverts the approach by creating a mapping mechanism that translates CBR service data into FlexE-compatible formats. This inversion eliminates the requirement for MAC frames in CBR services while still enabling rate adaptation through inserted code blocks and overhead information
3Measurement precision
If FlexE overhead includes timeslot mapping information, then service identification accuracy is improved, but overhead complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the overhead information into specific fields within the FlexE overhead structure, with dedicated bits indicating timeslot mappings for mapped services. This segmentation provides precise service identification while organizing the overhead in a structured manner that manages complexity through systematic field allocation rather than unstructured data
Data Source
AI summary
A data transmission method, a transmitter, and a receiver, where the method includes obtaining constant bit rate (CBR) service data, performing physical coding sublayer (PCS) encoding on the CBR service data, inserting a rate adaptation code block in a PCS bitstream obtained by PCS encoding to perform rate adaptation on the PCS bitstream, mapping the adapted PCS bitstream to N timeslots of a flexible Ethernet (FlexE) frame, where N is a positive integer greater than or equal to one, and sending the FlexE frame, where FlexE overhead of the FlexE frame includes information indicating the N timeslots corresponding to the PCS bitstream. Hence, according to the data transmission method, the transmitter, and the receiver, the CBR service data may be mapped to a FlexE, and a carrying capability of the FlexE is improved.