Multi-Level PON Management Through Hierarchical OMCI Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Managing and maintaining multi-level PON networks is inconvenient due to separate management of networks between central office devices and user-side devices at different levels.

Innovation Solution

A multi-level PON network management method that enables centralized management by using an optical line terminal (OLT) to configure secondary user-side devices through primary user-side devices, utilizing OMCI messages with identification information and configuration modes to process and encapsulate data efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If separate management devices are used to manage networks between central office device and user-side devices at different levels, then the network can be managed with existing structures, but the management and maintenance convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanagement structureVSAvoidmanagement convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the management functions for primary and secondary user-side devices into a single centralized management device (OLT). The OLT receives configuration information for secondary user-side devices from the management device and forwards it to primary user-side devices, which then configure the secondary devices. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate management devices at different levels while maintaining manageable network complexity through hierarchical configuration propagation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If centralized management is implemented by the OLT to manage all user-side devices, then management convenience improves, but the processing load and complexity of the OLT increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanagement convenienceVSAvoidOLT processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces primary user-side devices as intermediaries between the OLT and secondary user-side devices. The OLT sends configuration information to primary user-side devices, which then propagate this information to secondary user-side devices. This intermediary approach reduces the direct processing burden on the OLT while maintaining centralized management control, as the OLT only needs to manage the primary devices rather than all secondary devices directly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Extent of automation

If configuration information for secondary user-side devices is sent directly by OLT, then centralized control is maintained, but the configuration process efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecentralized controlVSAvoidconfiguration efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by having primary user-side devices pre-establish connection relationships and receive configuration information before secondary user-side devices are fully configured. The OLT sends configuration information to primary user-side devices in advance, which then automatically propagate it to secondary devices. This preliminary configuration approach maintains centralized control while significantly improving configuration efficiency through automated propagation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4216566B1Multi-level PON management method
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4216566B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4216566B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4216566B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Embodiments of this application disclose a multi-level passive optical network PON management method and a communication apparatus, and relate to an OLT, a primary user-side device, and a secondary user-side device. When the OLT needs to configure a secondary user-side device connected to a primary user-side device, the primary user-side device receives a first OMCI message including both first identification information and configuration information from the OLT. The first identification information indicates the to-be-configured secondary user-side device, and the configuration information is information for configuring the secondary user-side device. Then the primary user-side device determines a configuration mode of the secondary user-side device based on the first identification information, processes the configuration information based on the configuration mode, and configures the secondary user-side device corresponding to the first identification information. Therefore, the OLT can configure the secondary user-side device by using the primary user-side device. In addition, because the OLT can configure the primary user-side device, centralized management of a plurality of levels of user-side devices can be implemented.