Optical Data Communications Auto-Negotiation for Fiber Networks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical fibre data communication networks lack backward compatibility, making it impossible to upgrade individual devices within the network to higher speeds without upgrading all connected equipment, as they do not have an equivalent to the auto-negotiation feature present in copper wire networks.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that monitor the connection to detect data communication at multiple standards and switch between them, allowing communication to establish at the first or second standard detected, cycling between standards until a connection is made, and ceasing monitoring if no connection is detected after a predetermined time, enabling progressive upgrades without requiring simultaneous upgrades across the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If optical fibre networks use fixed communication standards without auto-negotiation, then device simplicity is maintained, but backward compatibility and adaptability are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The device dynamically switches between different communication standards (100BASE-FX and 1000BASE-FX) based on real-time detection of the connected device's capabilities. The monitoring means cycle through different standards and detect which one the connected device supports, then establish communication using the appropriate standard. This dynamic adaptation enables backward compatibility without requiring both devices to be upgraded simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the communication device by supporting multiple transmission standards with different speeds and coding algorithms. The device can operate at 100 Mbit/s using 8b/10b coding or at 1 Gbit/s using 64b/66b coding, depending on what the connected device supports. This parameter flexibility allows progressive network upgrades while maintaining compatibility with older devices.
2Speed
If all network equipment must be upgraded simultaneously to higher speeds, then communication speed is improved, but upgrade cost and network downtime increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network upgrade process is segmented into individual device upgrades rather than requiring simultaneous upgrading of all equipment. A single device can be upgraded to support 1000BASE-FX while connected to older 100BASE-FX devices, and the upgraded device will automatically detect and adapt to the older standard. This segmentation allows incremental investment and phased deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring means perform preliminary detection of the connected device's capabilities before establishing communication. By cycling through different standards and detecting which one works, the system determines the appropriate communication mode in advance, ensuring seamless connection without requiring manual configuration or network downtime.
3Adaptability or versatility
If monitoring between multiple standards is implemented, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring means cycle periodically through different communication standards to detect which one the connected device supports. This periodic cycling involves sequentially attempting to establish communication at different speeds (100 Mbit/s, 1 Gbit/s) and detecting which standard works. The periodic nature of this detection process simplifies the implementation compared to continuous monitoring, while still achieving full adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of communicating data between a network device and a data network to which the device is connected via an optical fiber data link in which the device is connected to the optical fiber data link and the connection is monitored to detect data communication at a first standard. If data communication is detected at the first standard, data communication is established using the first standard. If not, the connection is monitored at the second standard. If data communication is detected at the second standard, data communication is established using the second standard.