GPON Frame Header Indication for Idle Bandwidth Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current Gigabit-capable Passive Optical Network (GPON) systems lack an effective method for handling idle bandwidth, resulting in inefficient data transmission and processing.

Innovation Solution

The method involves a transmitter indicating non-essential data within GEM frames using specific preset values in the Port-ID or payload type of the frame header, allowing receivers to discard such data, thereby optimizing bandwidth usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If idle frames are transmitted to fill bandwidth, then bandwidth utilization is improved, but processing efficiency deteriorates because receivers must resolve each idle frame individually

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth utilizationVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential information from individual idle frames and consolidates it into a single multi-purpose frame. Instead of transmitting multiple separate idle frames to fill bandwidth, the system uses one frame with embedded control information that can direct multiple ONUs, thereby maintaining bandwidth utilization while dramatically reducing the number of frames that need to be processed individually.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of the idle frame by embedding control information within it. The frame structure is modified to include control fields that can identify multiple ONUs and indicate different types of control information (such as ranging control, bandwidth allocation, etc.), transforming a simple filler frame into a multi-functional control vehicle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If all ONUs receive and process every downlink frame, then reliability is improved, but processing overhead increases for frames not intended for specific ONUs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveframe reception reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by embedding control information in advance within the downlink frame. The control information is prepared and included in the frame before transmission, allowing ONUs to quickly identify whether the frame is intended for them based on their ONU-ID matching against the control information, rather than having to fully process every frame.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If the transmitter uses traditional idle frame transmission, then bandwidth filling is achieved, but system complexity increases due to lack of effective idle bandwidth handling methods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth fillingVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the idle frame universal by enabling it to serve multiple functions simultaneously. The same frame structure can carry different types of control information for different ONUs, perform ranging control, bandwidth allocation, and other management functions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized frames for each function, reducing system complexity.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2498451B1Method for data transmission and system for gigabit passive optical network
Publication Date: 2016.04.20 ZTE CORP
  • EP2498451B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2498451B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention discloses a method for transmitting data and a gigabit-capable passive optical network system, which method comprises: a transmitter carrying indication information in an uplink or a downlink frame transmitted to a receiver for enabling the receiver to discard information which does not need to be processed by the receiver in the uplink or downlink frame according to the indication information. The data type transmitted by GPON systems is expanded and the idle bandwidth is effectively handled by the present invention.