ONU Authentication with Low-Delay Band Switching

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Optical network systems face significant delays due to optical path, bandwidth allocation, internal system, and quiet window delays, particularly in passive optical networks, which impact communication efficiency and user experience.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a registration method and apparatus that utilizes low-delay and non-low-delay bands to authenticate optical network units (ONUs), employing auxiliary authentication devices and band switching to optimize equalization delays, and incorporating protection mechanisms for quick go-online and service recovery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If the window opening period is shortened to reduce delay, then the communication efficiency is improved, but the system complexity increases due to more frequent authentication operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication delayVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs authentication operations in advance during quiet windows before they are strictly needed. By preemptively authenticating ONUs during available quiet window periods, the system prepares authentication states ahead of time, reducing the actual authentication delay when services are requested while avoiding the need for more frequent window openings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts the authentication strategy based on system state. Instead of using fixed periodic authentication windows, the system adaptively performs authentication during quiet windows when conditions permit, optimizing the balance between delay reduction and system complexity by acting only when advantageous.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If multiple authentication operations are performed periodically, then the authentication reliability is improved, but the communication delay increases due to frequent window openings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the system to perform authentication during idle quiet window periods when no other transmissions are occurring. The quiet windows, which would otherwise be wasted time, are utilized for authentication operations, allowing the system to service itself using existing idle resources without adding extra delay.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Quantity of substance

If the quiet window opening size is increased to accommodate more ONUs, then the system capacity is improved, but the authentication delay increases for each ONU

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of ONUsVSAvoidauthentication delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the authentication process into segments performed during different quiet window periods. Instead of attempting to authenticate multiple ONUs simultaneously in one large window opening, the system segments authentication operations across multiple smaller quiet windows, reducing the delay impact on individual ONUs while maintaining the ability to handle multiple devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4170931B1Authentication method, apparatus and device, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2025.09.24 ZTE CORP

Figure 1~2
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C~2D

AI summary

Provided are an authentication method and apparatus, a device, and a storage medium. The method includes the following: if an optical line terminal operates in at least two bands, setting at least one low-delay band and at least one non-low-delay band; after receiving, in a non-low-delay band, a first serial number sent by an optical network unit, ONU, or an auxiliary authentication device, acquiring an equalization delay; after receiving, in the non-low-delay band, an authentication request sent by the ONU or the auxiliary authentication device, determining an ONU identifier according to the first serial number or a second serial number of the ONU in a low-delay band, where the second serial number is sent by the ONU in the non-low-delay band; and authenticating the ONU according to the ONU identifier and the equalization delay.