ODUk Overhead Encoding for Shared Mesh Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods lack a reliable and timely mechanism for delivering Shared Mesh Protection messages in optical transport networks, which is crucial for network operation and user experience.
Innovation Solution
Encoding Shared Mesh Protection protocol information into the optical data unit container overhead, allowing for timely and reliable message delivery by utilizing the APS/PCC field or other reserved fields within the overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Shared Mesh Protection messages are transmitted using conventional methods in optical transport networks, then network protection switching can be implemented, but message delivery is unreliable and timely delivery cannot be guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the Shared Mesh Protection message transmission with the existing ODUk data transmission by encoding messages into the ODUk overhead bytes. This combining approach allows protection messages to be delivered alongside data traffic through the same optical path, ensuring reliable and timely delivery without requiring separate dedicated message channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The ODUk overhead structure serves as an intermediary carrier for Shared Mesh Protection messages. By embedding messages within the standardized ODUk overhead framework, the patent enables reliable message transmission through established optical transport infrastructure, leveraging the overhead's inherent reliability for control signal delivery.
2Productivity
If Shared Mesh Protection messages are delivered without encoding into ODUk overhead, then implementation is simpler, but activation and deactivation of protecting connections experiences delays
Solution Approach 1:
The ODUk overhead structure is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it carries data transmission control information, enables Shared Mesh Protection messaging, and provides standardized interfacing across the optical transport network. This multi-functionality allows protection switching messages to be embedded without adding significant complexity, as the overhead structure is already universally present in ODUk transmissions.
3Reliability
If dedicated message transmission channels are used for Shared Mesh Protection, then message delivery reliability improves, but network resource utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines protection messaging traffic with data traffic by encoding messages within the ODUk overhead that accompanies data transmissions. This merging eliminates the need for separate dedicated message channels, allowing the same optical bandwidth to serve both data transport and protection signaling functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes existing ODUk overhead bytes that are already allocated for control and management purposes. By repurposing these overhead resources for Shared Mesh Protection messaging, the invention recovers unused capacity within the existing data transmission framework, avoiding additional bandwidth consumption while ensuring reliable message delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and nodes are disclosed for the support of traffic protection and recovery in mesh networks having multiple nodes communicating via communication links. The problem of timely and reliable Shared Mesh Protection message delivery is addressed through creation of protocols and encoding of Shared Mesh Protection messages within an overhead of the optical data unit container, and by processing the Shared Mesh Protection messages by intermediate nodes of the mesh network. Thus, the Shared Mesh Protection messages are transmitted through the data plane with the transmission of user data.