Optical Network Controller Signal Quality Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In optical communication networks, estimating signal quality for new or altered wavelength paths is challenging due to insufficient database information, leading to estimation errors and potential need for regenerators or redesigns, especially when actual fiber parameters are difficult to measure.
Innovation Solution
A network controller with acquisition, arithmetic, and estimation units that calculate and estimate signal quality for wavelength paths by acquiring signal quality data from existing paths, calculating OSNR and BER, and interpolating or extrapolating values to improve estimation precision for target paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If case-based reasoning is used to estimate signal quality by retrieving from database, then estimation can be performed without measuring actual fiber parameters, but estimation precision deteriorates when database information is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces span-level signal quality data as an intermediary between database information and path-level estimation. By decomposing path signal quality into individual span contributions and using span OSNR measurements as mediators, the system achieves more precise estimation even when direct path measurements are unavailable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the wavelength path into multiple spans and estimates signal quality for each span individually based on OSNR measurements. This segmentation allows for more granular and accurate estimation compared to treating the entire path as a single unit, particularly when database information is limited.
2Reliability
If excessive margin is set in system design, then reliability of transmission is improved, but transmission distance is reduced due to inferior design value
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the margin parameter based on actual measured OSNR values from spans. Instead of using fixed excessive margins, the system calculates appropriate margins by comparing measured signal quality against required thresholds, optimizing the balance between reliability and transmission distance.
Data Source
AI summary
A network controller includes: a first acquisition unit configured to acquire, based on a signal quality amount of each of wavelength paths set in a network of an optical wavelength-multiplexed transmission system, a signal quality amount of each of spans in each of the wavelength paths; an arithmetic unit configured to calculate a signal quality amount of each of spans in a wavelength path of an estimation target, based on the signal quality amount acquired by the first acquisition unit; and an estimation unit configured to estimate a signal quality amount of the wavelength path of the estimation target, based on the signal quality amount calculated by the arithmetic unit.