Optical Access Device MAC Layer Processing Offload

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Solution Overview

Problem

In optical communications systems, the Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) at the remote end consumes significant power due to processing optical signals at the MAC and PHY layers, leading to high power consumption.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves an optical access device that performs initial processing of downlink data at the MAC layer at the central office, converting it into a digital electrical signal, which is then sent to remote PHY processing entities for further processing at the PHY layer, eliminating the need for MAC layer processing at the remote device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the CMTS at the remote end processes optical signals at the MAC layer and PHY layer, then the data transmission function is achieved, but the power consumption of the remote device becomes relatively large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumption of remote deviceVSAvoidprocessing complexity at remote end
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the data processing functions by separating MAC layer processing from PHY layer processing. The optical access device at the central office performs MAC layer processing, while the remote device only performs PHY layer processing. This functional segmentation reduces the processing burden and power consumption at the remote end while maintaining complete data transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the MAC layer processing function from the remote device and relocates it to the optical access device at the central office. By taking out this complex processing function from the remote end, the patent significantly reduces the power consumption and complexity of the remote device while the central office device handles the extracted MAC layer processing tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Use of energy by moving object

If the optical access device performs MAC layer processing at the central office and sends only PHY layer data to the remote end, then power consumption at the remote device is reduced, but the data transmission distance and signal quality requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumption of remote deviceVSAvoidsignal transmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing MAC layer processing at the optical access device before transmitting data to the remote end. This preliminary processing includes data encapsulation, error control, and other MAC layer functions that prepare the data for transmission, thereby reducing the processing burden at the remote end while ensuring transmission reliability through advance data preparation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3553974B1Data processing method, optical access device, and optical access system
Publication Date: 2021.04.14 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3553974B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3553974B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3553974B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention relate to the optical communications field, and provide a data processing method, an optical access device, and an optical access system, so as to reduce power consumption of a device on a remote side. The optical access system includes an optical access device and at least one PHY processing entity connected to the optical access device. The optical access device receives first downlink data, performs first processing on the first downlink data at a MAC layer in the optical access device to obtain second downlink data in a form of a digital electrical signal, and sends, in a form of a digital optical signal, the second downlink data in a form of a digital electrical signal to the at least one PHY processing entity. Each PHY processing entity in the at least one PHY processing entity receives the second downlink data that is in a form of a digital optical signal and that is sent by the optical access device, performs second processing on the second downlink data in a form of a digital optical signal at a PHY layer to obtain third downlink data in a form of an analog electrical signal, and sends the third downlink data in a form of an analog electrical signal to a CM.