Flexible Rate Communication Signalling Using OTUCn and OTUL Frames
Solution Overview
Problem
Current Optical Transport Network (OTN) implementations lack finer granularity in bandwidth, making it difficult to adapt signal rates to available optical resources and other communication resources, limiting flexibility in communication systems.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of frames with a common frame format but different rates, such as OTUCn and OTUL frames, which provide provisionable rates up to 451 Gbps in increments of 50G or 100G, allowing for flexible and adaptable communication rates by concatenating OTUC and OTUL slices, and using multi-lane interfaces to support various electrical lane configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If OTN signal hierarchy uses fixed rate increments (100G, 200G), then implementation is simplified, but bandwidth granularity is too coarse to adapt to available optical resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the OTN signal hierarchy into two distinct parts: a standardized core (OTUCn for 100G multiples) and an extended extension (OTUCnL for finer 10G/5G granularity). This segmentation allows the core to maintain simplicity while the extension provides fine-grained bandwidth allocation, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where OTUL (lower-rate) frames are embedded within the OTUCnL signal hierarchy. The OTUCnL frame structure contains both standard OTUCn components and extended OTUL components, allowing finer granularity to be nested within the existing standardized framework without disrupting core functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If OTN implementations use standardized frame formats, then interoperability is improved, but flexibility in rate adaptation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal frame format that serves multiple functions: it maintains compatibility with standardized OTUCn frames for interoperability, while simultaneously supporting extended OTUCnL and OTUL frames for flexible rate adaptation. The common frame structure with configurable parameters enables one format to fulfill both standardized and customized requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic configurability within the frame structure, allowing the signal rate and granularity to be adjusted based on available optical resources. The frame format includes configurable parameters that enable rate adaptation from 100G multiples down to 10G or 5G increments, providing dynamic flexibility while maintaining a consistent standardized interface.
Data Source
AI summary
Flexible rate communication signalling apparatus and methods are disclosed. A determination is made as to a set of one or more of first frames and second frames which would provide a desired communication rate. The first frames and the second frames have a common frame structure but different associated rates. The determined set of one or more of the first frames and the second frames, including received client signals, is generated.