ONU Power Saving Scheme for Emergency Voice Connectivity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional External Backup Battery Units (EBBU) connected to Optical Network Units (ONU) fail to communicate battery power levels to backend monitoring systems during mains power loss, and existing power saving schemes do not reduce ONU power consumption during outages while maintaining emergency phone call functionality.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an ONU-initiated power saving scheme that depowers non-voice communication circuitry and powers voice communication circuitry during battery backup, enabling continuous operation of optical transmitter and receiver interfaces for phone connectivity, and introducing new OAM messages for telemetry and control communications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If conventional power saving schemes (Power Doze or Power Sleep) are used to reduce ONU power consumption during mains power outage, then power consumption is reduced, but emergency phone call functionality is lost because optical TX is deactivated

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveONU power consumptionVSAvoidemergency phone call functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the optical communication functions into essential (voice calls) and non-essential (data traffic) components. During battery backup mode, the system selectively maintains only the essential voice call functionality by keeping the optical transmitter active for voice protocols while allowing non-essential functions to be depowered, thus resolving the contradiction between power saving and maintaining critical emergency communication capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic power management where the ONU can transition between different operational states based on power availability. The system dynamically adjusts its power consumption profile by switching between full operation (mains power), reduced operation (battery backup with voice only), and sleep mode (battery backup with no data traffic), allowing it to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining essential functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If EBBU supplies power during mains power loss, then backup power is provided, but communication between EBBU and OLT/vCM is lost because no OAM messages are defined for battery power level telemetry

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackup power supplyVSAvoidbattery power level communication

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the existing OAM message framework universal by extending it to handle battery backup telemetry. The same OAM infrastructure used for normal operational monitoring is adapted to carry battery power level information, event notifications, and telemetry data, eliminating the need for separate communication channels and enabling comprehensive monitoring functionality across different operational modes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces the ONU as an intermediary that relays battery status information between the EBBU and the OLT/vCM. Since the EBBU itself cannot directly communicate with the OLT, the ONU acts as a mediator that collects power level data from the EBBU and forwards it through the existing OAM message infrastructure to the backend monitoring systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by moving object

If ONU depowers non-essential functions during battery backup, then power consumption is reduced, but communication capability with monitoring systems is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumption during outageVSAvoidcommunication features with OLT

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service monitoring where the ONU autonomously manages its own power consumption and communication priorities during battery backup mode. The system automatically identifies essential versus non-essential communication functions, maintains essential telemetry and event reporting capabilities, and depowers non-essential data traffic functions without requiring external intervention, thus balancing power conservation with maintained communication versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11402892B2Device power savings and extended telemtry messaging

Publication Date: 2022.08.02 CHARTER COMM OPERATING LLC

AI summary

This disclosure introduces a novel device-initiated power saving scheme that enables the device (such as a ONU or other suitable entity) to achieve efficiencies during power emergencies and enables new communication features with a communication management resource (such as an OLT or other suitable entity) and the monitoring of systems deep in a service provider's network. Additionally, the new power saving techniques as described herein are fully compatible with existing operational power saving methods. Further, new messages supporting telemetry data can be used to plan back office support expansion needs, identify subscribers that are eligible for enhanced service offers and other uses. Finally, this disclosure includes new telemetry messaging techniques to provide novel notification of a system status.