Optical Network Physical Layer Exchange for Automated Port Rerouting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical network switch management involves manual change orders and physical rerouting by technicians, leading to inefficiencies, errors, and excess bandwidth usage due to the complexity of optical switches, which are often avoided during peak periods to minimize mistakes and delays.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a portal and exchange platform that allows customers to remotely reroute communications at the physical layer of optical switches using digital tokens or virtual ports, enabling automated changes and listing excess bandwidth for exchange or sublease.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual change orders and physical rerouting by technicians are used, then communication reliability is maintained through human coordination, but operational efficiency deteriorates due to delays and errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical system of physical cable rerouting by technicians with an automated electronic control system. The optical switch controller receives electronic routing commands and automatically reconfigures optical paths without physical intervention, eliminating human errors while maintaining coordination reliability through structured communication protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical switch system performs self-reconfiguration through automated control logic. When routing changes are commanded, the switch controller autonomously manages the reconfiguration process, including port mapping updates and optical path establishment, without requiring external human assistance for each individual change operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If physical rerouting changes are made during peak periods, then network adaptability improves, but error rate increases due to complexity of optical switches
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the controller monitors routing command execution and verifies successful reconfiguration. Error detection and correction protocols ensure that even during complex peak-period operations, routing accuracy is maintained through continuous status monitoring and automated verification of port mappings.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated electronic control system eliminates human manual operations that are prone to errors during complex rerouting tasks. The system uses structured electronic command processing and automated port mapping management to maintain high precision even during frequent peak-period reconfigurations.
3Ease of operation
If manual change orders are processed, then coordination between entities is achieved, but time consumption increases due to days or weeks required for changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary configuration setup and validation before actual rerouting execution. Port mappings and routing parameters are pre-validated and staged, allowing rapid implementation when commands are issued. This preliminary preparation eliminates much of the time-consuming manual coordination while maintaining proper entity coordination through structured communication protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated electronic control system replaces the slow manual process of coordinate each rerouting change with instantaneous electronic command processing. The controller can execute multiple routing changes in sequence without the delays inherent in manual technician operations, reducing implementation time from days or weeks to minutes or seconds while maintaining coordination integrity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If physical cable movement is performed, then routing flexibility is achieved, but cable breakage occurs routinely
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces physical cable movement with electronic control of optical switching elements. Routing flexibility is achieved through software-controlled port mapping and optical path selection within the switch, eliminating the need to physically move cables. This maintains routing adaptability while completely preventing cable breakage associated with manual repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual representations of physical connections through port mapping tables and routing configurations. Instead of physically reconfiguring cable connections, the controller manages virtual routing paths that map logical connections to physical ports, allowing flexible rerouting without touching physical cables.
Data Source
AI summary
An exchange that provides for owners of physical ports of optical switches on a communications network to list bandwidth availability of the physical ports for selling or otherwise allocating the physical ports to others. The exchange may be configured to automatically transition the allocation of the physical ports between users by altering parameters of digital tokens bound to respective physical ports. A portal may be given to owners and/or licensees of the physical ports to alter routing of the physical ports by controlling the physical layer of the optical switch on which the physical ports reside. By using the principles described herein, conventional manual changes to the physical layer of the optical switches may be reduced or eliminated and owners of the physical ports may more easily offload extra bandwidth being supported by the physical ports.