Multi-band OFDM OLT Sub-band Segmentation for Cost Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing single-band OFDM PON scheme faces high device costs, compatibility issues with ODN, and non-colorless ONU due to stringent requirements on digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversion for downstream data transmission, and upstream signal isolation through wavelength division multiplexing.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves dividing the downstream data transmission frequency band into multiple sub-bands, using a multi-band OFDM PON network framework that employs frequency division multiplexing, allowing each sub-band to perform OFDM modulation independently, and enabling sub-band bandwidth sharing among ONUs, with OLT control for dynamic allocation and guard band management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If single-band OFDM PON is used for downstream data transmission, then spectrum efficiency is improved, but device cost increases due to high sampling rate requirements for digital-to-analog conversion and IQ modulation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectrum efficiencyVSAvoiddevice cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The downstream frequency band is divided into multiple sub-bands, with each sub-band processed by a separate parallel data transmission processing unit. This segmentation allows each unit to operate at a lower sampling rate, reducing the cost of digital-to-analog conversion and IQ modulation devices while maintaining overall high spectrum efficiency through the combined bandwidth of all sub-bands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Speed

If high-speed optical devices are used to achieve high data transmission rates, then transmission speed is improved, but device cost increases due to integration level and manufacturing process constraints

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission rateVSAvoiddevice cost
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The high data transmission rate is achieved by parallel processing of multiple sub-bands, each at a lower, more cost-effective sampling rate. The aggregate throughput of all parallel units equals or exceeds what a single high-speed device would provide, but at significantly lower cost per unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operating parameters of the transmission processing units from high sampling rates to multiple lower sampling rates. This parameter change enables the use of lower-cost devices while maintaining the required overall transmission capacity through parallel aggregation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If wavelength division multiplexing is used for upstream signal isolation, then signal interference is reduced, but device complexity increases and ONU colorlessness is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal isolationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses time-division multiplexing with periodic time slots allocated to different ONUs for upstream transmission. Each ONU transmits in its designated time slot, providing signal isolation through temporal separation rather than spectral separation, thereby maintaining ONU colorlessness and reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP2670103B1Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing passive optical network data transmission method and optical line terminal
Publication Date: 2020.08.05 ZTE CORP
  • EP2670103B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2670103B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP2670103B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The present document provides an optical line terminal (OLT), which includes: an OLT control unit configured to divide a downstream data transmission frequency band into a plurality of sub-bands; a serial-to-parallel conversion unit configured to, according to a division of the OLT control unit, perform a serial-to-parallel conversion on data to be transmitted to obtain data of the plurality of sub-bands, and transmit the data of each sub-band to a corresponding downstream data transmission processing unit; a downstream data transmission processing unit configured to map and modulate the corresponding sub-band data and output radio frequency signals; a combiner unit configured to combine a plurality of radio frequency signals and output combined signals; and an optical transmission processing unit configured to convert the combined signals into optical signals and transmit the optical signals. The present document also provides a data transmission method. With the present document, the downstream transmission frequency band is divided into a plurality of sub-bands, the sampling rates of the digital-to-analog conversion and IQ modulation devices required by each sub-band are lower than the sampling rates of devices required by the single-band scheme, thereby reducing the cost of system implementation.