Multi-flow Optical Transceiver Bandwidth Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional optical transceivers require excessive bandwidth resources and high initial introduction costs due to the need for high bit-rate performance, even when lower bit rates are required, limiting the efficient utilization of network bandwidth.

Innovation Solution

A multi-flow optical transceiver with wavelength-tunable light sources, optical modulation units, and an optical multiplexing/demultiplexing switch that couples light from these sources to modulation units with arbitrary power, allowing for flexible modulation and efficient bandwidth utilization, along with a digital/analog conversion unit to enhance signal processing capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an optical transceiver is designed with high bit-rate performance capability, then it can handle various bit rates including low bit rates, but the bandwidth resources are excessively consumed and initial introduction cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebit rate adaptabilityVSAvoidbandwidth resources

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The optical transceiver is divided into multiple independent optical transmission paths, each capable of handling different bit rates. This segmentation allows each path to be optimized for its specific bit rate requirement rather than all paths needing to support the maximum bit rate, thereby reducing total bandwidth consumption while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The optical transceiver employs dynamic path selection and configuration capabilities, allowing the system to adaptively allocate resources based on actual traffic requirements. This dynamic operation enables the transceiver to use only the necessary bandwidth for current low bit rate transmissions while retaining the capability to handle higher bit rates when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If an optical transceiver is designed with high bit-rate performance capability, then it can accommodate future higher bit rate requirements, but the initial introduction cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebit rate scalabilityVSAvoidinitial introduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The transceiver is segmented into multiple independent optical transmission paths with separate optical modulators and detection units. This modular architecture allows the system to be manufactured and deployed with only the necessary components for current low bit rate applications, reducing initial introduction cost while maintaining the capability to handle higher bit rates by activating additional paths or increasing modulation rates on existing paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The optical transceiver is designed with universal components that can operate at multiple bit rates. The same optical modulator and detection unit can be configured to handle both low and high bit rate transmissions, eliminating the need for separate hardware for different bit rate capabilities and thereby reducing initial introduction cost while maintaining scalability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If wavelength-tunable transceivers and WSS are used to increase the number of paths in an ROADM node, then the colorless and directionless functions are achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepath configuration flexibilityVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of multiple wavelength-tunable transceivers and WSS components into a single integrated optical transceiver with multiple independent transmission paths. This consolidation achieves the same colorless and directionless routing capabilities while reducing the total number of discrete components and simplifying the overall device architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The optical transceiver is designed as a universal platform that can perform multiple functions including wavelength tuning, path selection, and routing control within a single device. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining path configuration flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9762982B2Multi-flow optical transceiver, multi-flow optical transponder and multi-flow optical node

Publication Date: 2017.09.12 NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORP

AI summary

There is provided a multi-flow optical transceiver that includes (a) a plurality of wavelength-tunable light sources, (b) a plurality of optical modulation units which modulates light with an input signal, (c) an optical multiplexing/demultiplexing switch which couples light from at least one of the wavelength-tunable light sources to at least one of the optical modulation units with any power, (d) an optical coupling unit which couples a plurality of lights, modulated by a plurality of the optical modulation units, to at least one waveguide, (e) at least one multiple carrier generating unit which generates multiple carries, arranged at equal frequency intervals, from light of the wavelength-tunable light source, and (f) a wavelength separation unit which branches the multiple carriers from the multiple carrier generating unit for each wavelength.