Optical Demarcation Multiplexer for Network Ingress Consolidation
Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical demarcation systems require multiple client interfaces and transponders for each network destination, leading to high equipment costs and complexity in managing optical signals across a service provider's network, especially in full mesh topologies.
Innovation Solution
A Slave device capable of mapping and multiplexing multiple data streams into a single optical channel, allowing for efficient switching within the service provider's network, thereby reducing the need for multiple transponders and muxponders by integrating demarcation functions with muxponder systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple client interfaces and transponders are used for each network destination, then optical signal transmission to multiple destinations is ensured, but equipment cost and system complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple client interfaces and their associated transponders into a single multiplexer device. The multiplexer consolidates multiple client optical signals into fewer trunk signals, reducing the number of transponders needed at network ingress points. This merging approach maintains reliable optical signal transmission to multiple destinations while significantly reducing equipment complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiplexer device performs multiple functions: it receives multiple client optical signals, performs wavelength assignment, multiplexes signals onto trunk lines, and manages network ingress. By making a single device universal and multi-functional, the system eliminates the need for separate dedicated transponders for each client-destination pair, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining transmission reliability.
2Reliability
If multiple transponders are deployed at network ingress, then optical signal admission control is achieved, but operational cost and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple transponder functions into the multiplexer device located at the client premises. Instead of deploying multiple power-consuming transponders at network ingress points, the system uses a single multiplexer that performs wavelength assignment and signal conditioning. This consolidation maintains admission control capabilities while significantly reducing power consumption at network infrastructure locations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a full mesh topology is implemented with point-to-point connections, then peer-to-peer optical connectivity is achieved, but the number of client interfaces and fiber pairs required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the full mesh topology into client-side multiplexing and network-side switching. Instead of requiring direct point-to-point connections between all client pairs, the system divides the network into segments: client multiplexers aggregate signals locally, trunk lines carry consolidated traffic, and network switches route signals. This segmentation maintains peer-to-peer connectivity capability while dramatically reducing the number of fiber pairs needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the dimension of wavelength multiplexing to solve the fiber pair proliferation problem. By assigning different wavelengths to different client signals and multiplexing them onto shared trunk lines, the system enables peer-to-peer connectivity without requiring dedicated physical fiber pairs for each connection. This dimensional change from spatial to spectral resource allocation reduces fiber requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed to apparatus, systems and methods enabling a service provider to establish an optical demarcation point located at or within equipment controlled at least in part by a customer's domain such that the service provider's domain is able to directly control access of an optical signal to their domain based upon at least one optical signal characteristic and at least one of mapping and multiplexing properties pertaining to one or more information flows within said optical signal.