Optical Network Front Haul Protection with Delay Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radio access networks face challenges in protecting CPRI channels from interruptions due to long distances between Radio Equipment Control and Radio Equipment, leading to potential data loss and increased complexity in switching between active and standby transmission paths, which is not supported by current standards.
Innovation Solution
An optical network system with a channel drop add device and nodes configured to transmit data bidirectionally over a single fiber, using muxponders or transponders to synchronize and delay data signals, ensuring protection without interfering with the CPRI protocol, and enabling quick switching between active and standby paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If data is transmitted over long optical fiber distances between REC and RE, then coverage area is extended, but data interruption risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-configures protection paths and performs delay compensation setup in advance before any failure occurs. The delay compensation values are calculated and stored beforehand, enabling immediate switching to protection paths without interruption when fiber cuts or equipment failures occur, thus maintaining reliability while extending coverage area.
2Reliability
If protection switching is implemented between active and standby paths, then reliability is improved, but switching complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a protection path as an intermediary element that simplifies the switching mechanism. Instead of complex multi-path routing decisions, the system uses predetermined protection paths with pre-calculated delay compensation values, reducing switching complexity while maintaining reliability through the intermediary protection path structure.
3Manufacturing precision
If delay compensation is applied to synchronize data signals, then data synchronization is improved, but signal processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores delay compensation values for different protection paths before any failure occurs. When switching is needed, the appropriate pre-computed delay compensation value is simply applied, avoiding complex real-time calculations and reducing signal processing complexity while maintaining precise data synchronization.
4Device complexity
If bidirectional transmission is used over single fiber, then device complexity is reduced, but data loss risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the transmission paths into distinct active and protection paths, each with dedicated delay compensation mechanisms. This segmentation allows independent control and protection of each direction, reducing data loss risk in bidirectional single-fiber transmission while keeping device complexity manageable through modular path management.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4a
AI summary
An optical network is provided comprising a first node (503) and a channel drop add device (501). The first node (503) is configured to transmit data onto an optical fiber in a first line direction. The channel drop add device (501) is adapted to receive and add channels onto the optical fiber (502) thereby transmitting the data into the first and a second line direction (502a, 502b). The network further comprises a second node (507) configured to form a transmitter/receiver function. The second node is configured to receive data on said optical fiber from said first and second line directions, wherein the second node is adapted to convey data to a client interface for the data received for either said first or second line direction. The second node (507) is further configurable to transmit data into the first and second directions towards the channel add drop device using two line interfaces. The second node (507) is configured to convey data from the client interface into one direction, the active line direction, selected from said first and second directions (502a, 502b) and the second node is configured to not convey data from the client interface into the other line direction, standby line direction, selected from said first and second directions. Further, the second node (507) is adapted to synchronize received data from said first and second line directions by delaying (D) the data signals seeing the shortest delay, by a delay device.