ONU Power Management Direct State Transition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional optical network units (ONUs) in passive optical networks (PONs) lack the ability to directly transition between low power states without going through a high power state, leading to increased power consumption and reduced battery life during outages.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a unified power management method that allows ONUs to transition between a dozing state and a sleep state directly, without going through an active state, by controlling the ONU's transmitter and receiver states using specific timing parameters and signaling between the ONU and the optical line terminal (OLT).

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the ONU transitions between low power states through a high power state, then the ONU can maintain simpler state management, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidstate management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the power management into two distinct low-power states: dozing state (transmitter off, receiver on) and sleep state (both transmitter and receiver off). By dividing the power management into separate states with specific transition rules, the system achieves direct transitions between low-power states without requiring passage through a high-power state, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining manageable complexity through structured state definitions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic state transitions controlled by timing parameters and signaling mechanisms. The ONU can dynamically switch between dozing and sleep states based on traffic conditions and timing parameters (Tlisten, Tsleep, Tlowpower), enabling adaptive power management that optimizes energy consumption while maintaining responsiveness to communication requests through configurable transition criteria

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Duration of action of moving object

If the ONU uses battery backup to extend operational time during outages, then communication services can be maintained, but the battery size and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational time during power outagesVSAvoidbattery backup unit size
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the ONU by introducing configurable timing parameters (Tlisten, Tsleep, Tlowpower) that control the duration and conditions of low-power states. By adjusting these parameters, the system can extend operational time during battery-powered outages without requiring larger battery capacity, as the optimized power consumption allows longer duration from the same energy source

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic transitions between dozing and sleep states based on timing parameters and traffic patterns. During battery backup operation, the ONU can periodically switch between states to balance power consumption with communication requirements, extending the effective operational time of the battery by utilizing low-power intervals strategically

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If the ONU remains in active state to maintain responsiveness, then communication requests can be handled immediately, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponsiveness to communication requestsVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a dynamic power management system where the ONU transitions between dozing and sleep states based on real-time traffic conditions and timing parameters. The system maintains productivity by ensuring the ONU can quickly transition to active state when needed, while spending most time in low-power states to reduce consumption. The configurable parameters allow optimization of the balance between responsiveness and energy savings

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent prepares the ONU for quick response by maintaining the receiver in the dozing state (ready to receive) while the transmitter is off. This preliminary preparation allows the system to be in a low-power state while still being able to quickly respond to incoming communication requests, as the receiver is already active and can immediately process incoming signals without requiring full activation of all components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2873173B1Optical network unit power management in passive optical networks
Publication Date: 2019.03.06 ZTE CORP
  • EP2873173B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2873173B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2873173B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Techniques for unified optical network unit power management in a passive optical network include operating an optical network unit (ONU) in a first state in which a transmitter of the ONU is turned off and a receiver of the ONU is turned on, operating the ONU in a second state in which both the transmitter and the receiver are turned off, and transitioning the ONU directly between the first state and the second state, based on a power management rule.