Optical Link Auto-Negotiation for PHY Rate, PCS Coding and FEC

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical link systems face challenges in automatically configuring the rate, coding mode, and forward error correction mode of downlink data, leading to inefficiencies and increased complexity due to manual configuration or complex protocols, especially in wavelength division multiplexing networks.

Innovation Solution

An optical link channel auto-negotiation method and apparatus that automatically configures the receiving rate, PCS coding mode, and FEC mode by using the existing functions of the PHY module, without additional modulation and demodulation processing, to establish an optical link channel efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual configuration of rate, coding mode and FEC mode is performed on the remote device, then configuration accuracy is improved, but operation complexity and time consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The remote device automatically detects and configures its own receiving rate, PCS coding mode, and FEC mode by analyzing the local device's transmission parameters and performing self-testing, eliminating the need for manual configuration while ensuring accurate matching of communication parameters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The local device pre-configures and transmits its transmission rate, coding mode, and FEC mode information to the remote device before actual data transmission begins, allowing the remote device to prepare appropriate reception settings in advance and avoid configuration errors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Extent of automation

If complex protocols are implemented for automatic parameter transmission and configuration, then automation extent is improved, but device complexity increases greatly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation extentVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention utilizes existing standard protocols and multi-functional capabilities of the local and remote devices to achieve automatic parameter negotiation, avoiding the need for proprietary complex protocols while maintaining high automation through existing device functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The remote device performs self-testing by transmitting test data and analyzing reception results to automatically adjust and confirm optimal configuration parameters, creating a feedback loop that achieves automation without complex protocols through iterative validation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of information

If additional modulation and demodulation processing is added for parameter transmission, then information completeness is improved, but processing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and transmits only the essential configuration parameters (transmission rate, coding mode, FEC mode) that are already embedded in the data stream, rather than adding separate modulation and demodulation processing, thereby obtaining complete information with minimal additional complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3890339B1Optical link channel auto-negotiation method and apparatus, computer-readable storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.07.09 ZTE CORP
  • EP3890339B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3890339B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3890339B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

Disclosed are an optical link channel auto-negotiation method and apparatus, a computer-readable storage medium. The method comprises at least one of the following steps: configuring a receiving rate; determining whether a receive clock recovered by a PHY module from received data is locked, and in response to determining that the receive clock recovered by the PHY module from the received data is locked, determining that the receiving rate is configured correctly; configuring a first predetermined parameter in response to determining that the receiving rate is configured correctly; determining whether code block data of the PHY module is in a synchronous state, and in response to determining that the code block data of the PHY module is in a synchronous state, determining that the first predetermined parameter is configured correctly; configuring an uplink transmission wavelength in response to determining that the receiving rate is configured correctly and the first predetermined parameter is configured correctly; and determining whether the link state of the PHY module is no fault warning, and in response to determining that the link state of the PHY module is no fault warning, determining that the uplink transmission wavelength is configured correctly.