Host Board Management Unit for Optical Transceiver Lane Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical transceivers and host boards do not efficiently support incremental changes in transmission capacity, limiting the ability to seamlessly upgrade or downgrade transmission rates in optical communication systems.
Innovation Solution
A host board and optical transceiver configuration that includes a management unit and communication interface to read lane information from optical transceivers, allowing for the specification of available electrical contacts and lanes, enabling incremental changes in transmission capacity by changing the number of lanes and wavelengths used.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If optical transceivers are designed with fixed transmission capacity, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different transmission rates is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic lane configuration where the optical transceiver can dynamically adjust the number of active lanes (1 lane, 2 lanes, or 4 lanes) based on transmission capacity requirements. The management unit dynamically configures which electrical contacts are available for communication, enabling the system to adapt between 100Gbps, 50Gbps, 25Gbps, and 10Gbps modes without hardware changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical transceiver is designed with universal electrical contacts that can serve multiple functions depending on configuration. The same physical electrical contacts are used for different lane configurations (1 lane, 2 lanes, or 4 lanes), allowing a single device to support multiple transmission capacities (100Gbps, 50Gbps, 25Gbps, 10Gbps) through software-controlled lane assignment rather than requiring separate hardware for each rate.
2Productivity
If the number of electrical contacts is increased to support higher transmission capacities, then transmission capacity is improved, but ease of operation is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically assigns electrical contacts to lanes based on the required transmission capacity. When operating at 100Gbps, all four electrical contacts are actively configured for data transmission. When downgraded to lower capacities, the management unit dynamically reconfigures which contacts are available, automatically managing the complexity of electrical contact assignment without requiring manual intervention from operators.
Solution Approach 2:
The management unit automatically performs the complex task of configuring electrical contacts and lane assignments based on the detected transmission capacity requirements. The system self-manages the mapping between optical lanes and electrical contacts, eliminating the need for manual configuration and simplifying operation while maintaining the ability to support multiple transmission capacities.
3Productivity
If hardware changes are required for transmission capacity upgrades, then transmission capacity is improved, but loss of time is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves transmission capacity changes by modifying software-controlled parameters (lane configuration, electrical contact availability) rather than physical hardware. The management unit changes operational parameters such as which lanes are active and which electrical contacts are assigned to data transmission, enabling rapid transitions between 100Gbps, 50Gbps, 25Gbps, and 10Gbps modes without any hardware installation, removal, or reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical transceiver is pre-configured with the capability to support multiple lane configurations (1 lane, 2 lanes, 4 lanes) and multiple transmission capacities (100Gbps, 50Gbps, 25Gbps, 10Gbps) within its hardware architecture. The electrical contacts and optical pathways are preliminarily arranged to support all configurations, allowing immediate activation of different transmission rates through software control without requiring preliminary hardware installation or physical reconfiguration.
Data Source
AI summary
A host board for mounting an optical transceiver includes a connector that is configured to attach thereto and detach therefrom an optical transceiver having at least one lane and includes electrical contacts as many as the at least one lane, a management unit configured to receive lane information regarding the at least one lane of the optical transceiver from the optical transceiver through the connector and specify an available electrical contact, and a communication unit configured to communicate with the optical transceiver through the connector. The communication unit is configured to communicate information with the optical transceiver through the electrical contact specified by the management unit.