Dynamic Burst Receiver Tuning in Optical Line Terminals

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Solution Overview

Problem

In point-to-multipoint optical networks, tuning burst receiver components in an optical line terminal (OLT) is challenging due to the unknown time of arrival of upstream burst signals, leading to excessive and inefficient tuning during contention-based allocation and ranging procedures.

Innovation Solution

The OLT initiates a tuning cycle with a first period to partially tune burst receiver components, extending it to a second period if a burst signal is detected, and further to a third period for decoding if a predetermined pattern is found, thereby optimizing tuning time and avoiding futile cycles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the OLT continuously tunes burst receiver components during the entire time window to ensure detection of any arriving burst signal, then the reliability of burst signal detection is improved, but the loss of time due to excessive tuning cycles increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveburst signal detection reliabilityVSAvoidtuning cycle time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The OLT performs preliminary tuning of burst receiver components before the actual burst signal arrival is detected. This preliminary action prepares the receiver components in advance, so when a burst signal arrives, the tuning is already complete or near-complete, reducing the actual tuning time needed and allowing faster detection without sacrificing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The tuning cycle duration is made dynamic rather than static. The OLT adjusts the tuning cycle length based on whether a burst signal is detected - extending the cycle when signals are present to ensure proper tuning, and terminating early when no signals are detected to avoid wasted time. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining detection reliability and reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If the OLT extends the tuning cycle to ensure complete tuning of burst receiver components, then the manufacturing precision of signal decoding is improved, but the productivity of the optical network decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal decoding precisionVSAvoidnetwork throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The OLT applies partial tuning action when appropriate - performing only the necessary amount of tuning required for successful signal detection and decoding, rather than always executing complete extended tuning cycles. This partial action maintains sufficient decoding precision while reducing unnecessary tuning time that would otherwise reduce network productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The tuning cycle is dynamically adjusted based on signal detection outcomes. When burst signals are detected, the tuning cycle is extended to ensure complete tuning for accurate decoding. When no signals are detected, the cycle is terminated early. This dynamic behavior ensures decoding precision is maintained when needed while maximizing overall network productivity by avoiding unnecessary extended tuning periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Speed

If the OLT initiates frequent tuning cycles to capture early arriving burst signals, then the speed of signal detection is improved, but the loss of time due to multiple futile tuning cycles increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal detection speedVSAvoidfutile tuning time
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The OLT uses feedback from burst signal detection to control the tuning cycle behavior. Detection indicators from the burst signal presence information feed back to the tuning cycle controller, which then adjusts subsequent tuning cycle initiation and duration. This feedback mechanism ensures tuning cycles are initiated at appropriate times and durations, maintaining fast detection speed while eliminating futile tuning cycles that would waste time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4425953A1Tuning of receiver components in an optical line terminal
Publication Date: 2024.09.04 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY
  • EP4425953A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4425953A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4425953A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

Example embodiments describe an optical line terminal (110), OLT, configured to communicate in a point-to-multipoint optical network (100) with optical network units (131, 132, 133), ONUs; wherein upstream burst signals originating from one or more ONUs can be received by the OLT at any time during a time window (210). The OLT (110) comprising means configured to perform, during the time window, initiating (202) a tuning cycle (220, 230, 240, 250) by starting the tuning of one or more burst receiver components within the OLT. The means further being configured to perform, if detecting a burst signal within a first period (241), extending the tuning cycle (240) by a second period (242) to continue the tuning of the one or more burst receiver components. The means further being configured to perform, if detecting at least one predetermined pattern within the second period (242), extending the tuning cycle to decode the burst signal. Else, terminating (204) the tuning cycle by initiating a next tuning cycle.