ODU Demultiplexing Using Space-Time-Space Switch and Compactor Block
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In optical transport networks, the increasing bandwidth demand and large multiplexing structures require efficient demultiplexing methods to handle high-order ODUk signals into lower-order ODUj/ODUflex clients, while allowing for flexible channel additions, removals, and hitless resizing, without corrupting data and ensuring context information passes through FIFOs.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus using a permutation matrix and a space-time-space switch to demultiplex high-order ODUk words into low-order ODUj/ODUflex clients, with a compactor block removing stuff words and allowing reconfiguration for channel additions or removals, ensuring hitless operations by updating configuration settings at the next server multi-frame boundary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional demultiplexing methods are used for high-order ODUk signals, then demultiplexing functionality is provided, but hardware complexity and gate requirements increase significantly for future high-bandwidth devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the demultiplexing process into distinct functional blocks: overhead removal block, GMP identification block, and compactor block. Each block handles a specific aspect of the demultiplexing operation, allowing for modular implementation and reducing overall hardware complexity while maintaining demultiplexing efficiency for high-bandwidth devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary compactor block that processes the output from the GMP identification block before final demultiplexing. This intermediary structure simplifies the data flow and reduces the complexity of direct demultiplexing logic, particularly beneficial for 400 Gbps and 1 Tbps systems
2Adaptability or versatility
If channels are added or removed in multiplexing structures, then network flexibility is improved, but data corruption may occur and reconfiguration is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary identification of GMP words and their associated channel data before actual demultiplexing operations. By pre-identifying the structure and location of channel data using the GMP identification block, the system prepares the data stream in advance, ensuring that subsequent additions or removals of channels can be performed without corrupting existing data
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the compactor block monitors the demultiplexed output and provides information back to the overhead removal and GMP identification blocks. This feedback loop ensures that configuration changes are coordinated across all blocks, maintaining data integrity during channel additions or removals
3Adaptability or versatility
If ODUflex clients are resized, then bandwidth adaptability is improved, but operation continuity may be interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic configuration capabilities where the overhead removal block and GMP identification block can adjust their processing parameters in real-time based on ODUflex client size changes. The system dynamically reconfigures the demultiplexing structure without requiring interruption of the data flow, allowing bandwidth adaptation while maintaining continuous operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous demultiplexing operation by processing data through pipelined blocks where each block operates continuously. The compactor block maintains continuous output generation even during ODUflex resizing events, ensuring that the useful action of data demultiplexing continues without interruption while configuration parameters are updated
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus are provided for de-multiplexing one or more Low-Order ODUj/ODUflex clients from a High-Order ODUk carrier. The number of TribSlots assigned to an ODUflex may be increased and decreased hitlessly, in accordance to ITU-T G.7044. In the Multiplexing direction, a Space-Time-Space switch is used to interleave bytes from Low-Order ODUk words into High-Order ODUk words. In the De-multiplexing direction, a similar switch is used to extract Low-Order ODUj bytes that are interleaved inside High-Order ODUk words and re-arrange them into Low-Order ODUj words.