Optical Module Lock-Status Feedback for Reliable PHY Encryption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data encryption technologies struggle to ensure reliability at the physical layer, particularly in network communication, leading to security risks and inefficiencies in managing dynamic encryption requirements.

Innovation Solution

A status notification method and optical module design that determines the lock status of logical lanes in optical modules, enabling reliable encryption and decryption operations only after lane lock is confirmed, using alignment markers to convey lock status information without adding bandwidth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data encryption is implemented at the physical layer, then network security is improved, but reliability of encryption operations cannot be ensured without lane lock status confirmation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of data encryptionVSAvoidcomplexity of encryption control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the receiving end sends lane lock status notification information back to the transmitting end. This feedback loop ensures that the transmitting end only performs encryption operations when the lane lock status is confirmed, thereby ensuring reliability without requiring complex control mechanisms. The notification information serves as a feedback signal that triggers or prevents encryption operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent requires that lane lock status confirmation occurs before encryption operations are performed. This preliminary action ensures that the physical layer connection is stable and synchronized before security operations begin, preventing unreliable encryption. The system waits for the lane lock status to be confirmed before activating the encryption function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If lane lock status notification information is transmitted, then encryption reliability is improved, but bandwidth is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of encryption operationsVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the lane lock status notification information serve multiple functions: it notifies the transmitting end of the lane lock status, enables the transmitting end to determine when to perform encryption operations, and confirms the stability of the physical layer connection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate control signals, thereby minimizing bandwidth consumption while ensuring encryption reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If encryption operations are performed before lane lock, then processing speed is improved, but encryption reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidencryption reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from the lane lock status notification to control the timing of encryption operations. The transmitting end receives real-time status information and adjusts its processing accordingly, performing encryption only when the feedback indicates a locked state. This ensures reliability without significant loss of processing speed, as the system operates continuously but conditionally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Adaptability or versatility

If dynamic encryption requirements are accommodated, then adaptability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to encryption requirementsVSAvoidcomplexity of status management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The feedback mechanism automatically adjusts encryption operations based on the lane lock status notification information. When the status changes, the system adaptively enables or disables encryption without requiring complex manual configuration or intervention. This feedback-driven adaptability simplifies the system compared to static or manually managed encryption systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12537607B2Status notification method, optical module, network device, and network system

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A status notification method includes: determining a lock status of a logical lane in a first optical module, where the first optical module belongs to a first network device, and the lock status includes a locked state or an unlocked state; and sending uplink notification information when the lock status indicates that the logical lane in the first optical module is locked, where the uplink notification information is used to enable a second optical module to determine that the logical lane in the first optical module is locked, the second optical module belongs to a second network device, and the first optical module is coupled to the second optical module.