Optical Link Protection via Passive Splitter and Combiner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multilayer optical network resilience concepts are inefficient due to high complexity, cost, and underutilization of interface capacity, as they require significant spare capacity and expensive interfaces for protection, especially in IP/MPLS and optical layers.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an optical link protection method where each link is split into two disjoint edges, with odd and even wavelengths shared on long-distance fibers, using passive components like 3dB splitters and interleavers to ensure redundancy and efficient spectrum usage, allowing for high reliability and flexibility in wavelength management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multilayer optical network resilience concepts are implemented using traditional FRR and IGP mechanisms, then network reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The optical network is segmented into disjoint edges for each link, with separate odd and even wavelength paths. This segmentation allows independent protection paths without requiring complex multilayer coordination, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability through physical layer diversity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex software-based FRR and IGP mechanisms with a simpler optical layer solution using passive components (3dB splitters and interleavers). This substitution eliminates the need for complex control plane interactions and routing protocol adjustments, significantly reducing device complexity while providing automatic protection switching.
2Reliability
If traditional FRR mechanism is used for protection, then network reliability is improved, but interface capacity utilization decreases to 50%
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protection and working paths at the optical layer using passive components. Both odd and even wavelengths are combined onto shared long-distance fibers through interleavers, allowing full interface capacity utilization during normal operation while maintaining protection capability through the disjoint edge structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection mechanism operates continuously without requiring interface reconfiguration or capacity reservation. The passive optical components enable continuous full-capacity utilization on all interfaces, with automatic protection switching occurring at the optical layer without interrupting the useful action of data transmission.
3Reliability
If disjoint edges with odd and even wavelengths are used for optical link protection, then network reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive passive optical components (3dB splitters and interleavers) instead of complex active switching devices. These simple components provide the necessary protection functionality without requiring complex control logic, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining high reliability through physical layer diversity.
4Ease of manufacture
If passive components like 3dB splitters and interleavers are used for wavelength management, then cost is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the inherent spectral properties of passive optical components, specifically the wavelength-dependent behavior of interleavers. By changing the parameter of wavelength separation (odd/even wavelengths), the system achieves protection functionality without requiring complex active control, reducing cost while the precision requirements are managed through standard optical component specifications.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces network complexity and costs by enabling full interface load utilization, achieving low-complexity, high-efficiency, and high-reliability resilience in multilayer optical networks with fast switching times and equal treatment of QoS and Best-Effort traffic.
Implementation Method 1
an optical splitter, configured for receiving a first optical transmission link carrying a first plurality of wavelengths, the optical splitter being configured to split the first optical transmission link into a main and a redundant sub-link
Implementation Method 2
an optical combiner, coupled to the optical splitter and configured for receiving a redundant sub-link of a second optical transmission link carrying a second plurality of wavelengths, the optical combiner being configured to combine the main sub-link of the first optical transmission link and the redundant sub-link of the second optical transmission link
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an optical transmission link protection device (101), comprising: an optical splitter (111), configured for receiving a first optical transmission link (112) carrying a first plurality of wavelengths, the optical splitter (111) being configured to split the first optical transmission link (112) into a main (114) and a redundant (116) sub-link, both sub-links carrying the first plurality of wavelengths; and an optical combiner (113), coupled to the optical splitter (111) and configured for receiving a redundant sub-link (126) of a second optical transmission link (122) carrying a second plurality of wavelengths, the optical combiner (113) being configured to combine the main sub-link (114) of the first optical transmission link (112) and the redundant sub-link (126) of the second optical transmission link (122) for providing a protected optical transmission link (118) carrying both, the first plurality of wavelengths and the second plurality of wavelengths.