Flexible Ethernet Fault Indication via Periodic Code Blocks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In flexible Ethernet networks, continuous transmission of local fault signals to all clients after a fault occurs in a physical layer entity occupies all downstream bandwidth, affecting non-faulty channels and increasing the number of affected clients.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that detect faults in physical layer entities within a flexible Ethernet group and periodically send a fault indication code block to the corresponding client, allowing for idle code blocks between fault indications to minimize bandwidth occupation and reduce affected clients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a local fault signal is continuously sent to each flexible Ethernet client after a fault occurs in a physical layer entity, then fault indication is achieved, but all downstream bandwidth is occupied and non-faulty channels are affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by sending fault indication code blocks at specific intervals rather than continuously. The fault indication is transmitted periodically in the downstream direction to the affected FlexE client, allowing the system to maintain reliable fault notification while leaving bandwidth available during intervals between transmissions. This resolves the contradiction by converting continuous bandwidth occupation into periodic, controlled usage.
2Loss of information
If a local fault signal is continuously sent to all flexible Ethernet clients in a FlexE group, then all clients are notified of the fault, but the number of affected clients increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by directing fault indication signals only to the specific FlexE client associated with the faulty physical layer entity, rather than broadcasting to all clients in the FlexE group. The fault indication is locally targeted to the affected client based on the mapping relationship between physical layer entities and FlexE clients, ensuring fault information reaches the right recipient without unnecessarily affecting other clients.
3Reliability
If continuous fault signal transmission is used, then fault notification is immediate and continuous, but bandwidth availability for data transmission is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by implementing periodic transmission of fault indication code blocks rather than continuous transmission. This allows the system to maintain reliable fault notification through regular updates while preserving bandwidth during intervals between transmissions for data communication. The periodic approach balances fault notification reliability with data transmission productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by sending fault indications only when necessary (when faults occur or change state) rather than continuously. The fault indication code blocks are transmitted periodically but only contain fault information when relevant, allowing the system to provide adequate fault notification without excessively occupying bandwidth that could be used for productive data transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
The present subject matter relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and an apparatus for indicating a fault in flexible Ethernet. The method for indicating a fault includes: detecting whether a fault occurs in at least one physical layer entity included in a flexible Ethernet group; and when a fault occurs in the at least one physical layer entity, periodically sending a fault indication code block to a flexible Ethernet client corresponding to the at least one physical layer entity in which the fault occurs. Not all bandwidth of a downstream transmission path in the flexible Ethernet is occupied, and data transmission on a non-faulty channel in a same flexible Ethernet group is not affected, thereby reducing a quantity of affected flexible Ethernet clients.