Optical Modem Capacity Adaptation During Restoration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical networking systems face challenges in achieving best effort home route capacity on protection paths during optical restoration, particularly in complex mesh networks where margin prediction is difficult due to evolving spectral fill conditions and varying bandwidth requirements.
Innovation Solution
The method involves detecting faults on the home route, downshifting the photonic service to a restoration route with adaptive modem capabilities, monitoring the service's Bit Error Rate (BER) to determine Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) margin, and upshifting capacity when sufficient margin is available, utilizing control planes, SDN controllers, and Path Computation Engines to dynamically adjust capacity without impacting co-propagating services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the protection path is constrained to support the margin requirements of the photonic service from its home route, then the service reliability is improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of margin prediction increase due to evolving spectral fill conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of capacity allocation by allowing dynamic adjustment of service capacity on protection paths. Instead of being constrained to fixed margin requirements, the service capacity can be downshifted when faults occur and potentially upshifted when margin becomes available, resolving the contradiction by making capacity a dynamic parameter rather than a static constraint
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic capacity adjustment mechanisms where the photonic service capacity on protection routes can change over time. The service can be downshifted to lower capacity when faults occur and upshifted when margin becomes available, transforming the static protection path into a dynamic system that adapts to changing network conditions
2Adaptability or versatility
If adaptive bandwidth via adaptable modulation formats and baud rates is supported, then the adaptability of the system is improved, but the protection route computation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the ability to change modulation format and baud rate parameters dynamically. When a fault occurs, the system can adaptively downshift capacity by changing these parameters, and when margin becomes available on the protection path, it can upshift back to home route capacity, resolving the contradiction by using parameter changes as the mechanism for adaptation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the protection route computation dynamic by allowing the system to adapt bandwidth characteristics in real-time based on network conditions and margin availability, rather than requiring static pre-computation for all possible scenarios
3Productivity
If the service operates at home route capacity on the restoration route, then the productivity is improved, but the reliability decreases due to insufficient margin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dynamic capacity adjustment mechanism where the service capacity on the restoration path is not fixed but can evolve over time. The service starts at a lower capacity to ensure reliability, then can upshift to home route capacity as margin becomes available, resolving the contradiction by making capacity a dynamic parameter that balances reliability and productivity over time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously monitors margin availability on the restoration path and adjusts service capacity accordingly. When margin becomes available, the system feedbacks this information and upshifts the service capacity, resolving the contradiction by using feedback to dynamically balance reliability and productivity
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of optical restoration include, with a photonic service (14), in an optical network (10, 100), operating between two nodes (A, Z) via an associated optical modem (40) at each node, wherein each modem (40) is capable of supporting variable capacity, C1, C2, . . . , CN where C1>C2> . . . >CN, detecting a fault (16) on a home route of the photonic service (14) while the photonic service (14) operates at a home route capacity CH, CH is one of C1, C2, . . . , CN−1; downshifting the photonic service (14) to a restoration route capacity CR, CR is one of C2, C3 . . . , CN and CR<CH; switching the photonic service (14) from the home route to a restoration route (18) while the photonic service (14) operates at a restoration route capacity CR; and monitoring the photonic service (14) and copropagating photonic services during operation on the restoration route (18) at the restoration route capacity CR for an upshift of the photonic service (14).