Gridless Optical Transport System for Flexible Bandwidth Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) systems are limited by fixed optical bandwidth and channel spacing, which restricts the number of optical channels and spectral efficiency in optical networks, leading to underutilization of available bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a gridless optical transport system with Reconfigurable Optical Add-Drop Multiplexers (ROADM) and network management systems that dynamically adjust bandwidth, modulation formats, and carrier configurations based on network traffic demands, allowing for flexible channel allocation and utilization of unused spectral bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If DWDM systems use fixed optical bandwidth and channel spacing, then channel allocation is simplified and standardized, but spectral efficiency decreases and bandwidth utilization is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamically可调 optical channels where bandwidth and channel spacing can be adjusted in real-time based on network traffic demands. The system transitions from fixed grid-based allocation to flexible gridless allocation, allowing channels to expand or contract spectrally without rigid constraints, thereby optimizing spectral efficiency while maintaining allocation simplicity through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key parameters including optical bandwidth, channel spacing, and carrier frequency from fixed values to dynamically adjustable parameters. By modifying these parameters based on actual network conditions, the system achieves higher spectral efficiency while maintaining ease of allocation through intelligent parameter management rather than rigid standardization.
2Device complexity
If DWDM systems allocate fixed number of optical channels, then system configuration is simplified, but bandwidth utilization is reduced due to unused spectral bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the number of optical channels to be dynamically adjusted rather than fixed. The system can create, eliminate, or merge channels based on actual bandwidth demands, allowing full utilization of available spectral resources. Automated channel management maintains configuration simplicity despite the flexibility in channel数量.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical transport system achieves multi-functionality by serving both fixed-grid and flexible-grid modes. The same infrastructure can operate in standardized fixed-channel mode for simplicity or switch to flexible gridless mode for maximum bandwidth utilization, making the system adaptable to different operational requirements without requiring separate dedicated systems.
3Reliability
If DWDM systems use fixed channel spacing with guard bands, then adjacent channel interference is prevented, but available bandwidth for data transmission is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic channel spacing where guard bands are only applied when channels are adjacent and active. When channels are separated or inactive, the spacing can be reduced or eliminated, allowing more bandwidth to be used for data transmission. The system dynamically adjusts spacing based on actual channel activation patterns and interference conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes channel spacing from a fixed parameter to a dynamically adjustable parameter. By modifying spacing and guard band parameters based on actual network conditions, the system maintains adequate channel isolation for reliability while maximizing data transmission capacity by reducing unnecessary spacing between non-interfering channels.
Data Source
AI summary
Optical nodes in an optical network may provide directionless, colorless, contentionless, and gridless transmission, reception, and switching of optical signals in which a non-fixed number of optical channels and a non-fixed bandwidth for each optical channel is used. Optical nodes can use the full extent of the optical bandwidth due to the absence of channel spacing.