Optical Network Architecture Reducing Latency and Equipment Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional passive optical networks (PONs) face inefficiencies due to the need for electronic processing and latency in upstream data transmission, which limits network throughput and flexibility, especially in fiber-to-the-home and fiber-to-the-business scenarios, and are inflexible and costly to reconfigure for emerging traffic patterns.
Innovation Solution
An optical network architecture that integrates an optical line termination with a backbone network and a local exchange, allowing for bi-directional single-fiber traffic conversion and utilizing Ultra-Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (UDWDM) to reduce the need for multiple DSLAMs and optical-electrical-optical conversions, enabling flexible wavelength selection and redundant path management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional PONs use electronic processing and time-division multiplexing for upstream data transmission, then data can be transmitted from ONUs to OLT, but latency increases and network throughput is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic processing and time-division multiplexing with optical wavelength-division multiplexing. Instead of converting optical signals to electrical signals for processing and then back to optical, the system maintains signals in the optical domain throughout, using different wavelengths to carry multiple channels simultaneously. This substitution of optical processing for electronic processing eliminates the latency associated with O/E/O conversion and enables parallel transmission of multiple data streams, thereby resolving the contradiction between reducing latency and increasing network throughput.
2Productivity
If conventional PONs use multiple DSLAMs and OEO conversions to handle different traffic patterns, then network capacity is increased, but device complexity and reconfiguration cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal optical network architecture where a single OLT can serve multiple ONUs with different traffic requirements using wavelength-division multiplexing. The system uses a pool of wavelength-selective switches and optical add-drop multiplexers that can dynamically allocate wavelengths to different ONUs based on traffic demands. This multi-functional approach allows the same hardware infrastructure to handle various traffic patterns without requiring separate DSLAMs for each service type, thereby increasing network capacity while reducing device complexity and reconfiguration costs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional PONs use dedicated filters at each DSLAM for wavelength selection, then wavelength-specific traffic can be routed, but network flexibility and adaptability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces static, dedicated filters at each DSLAM with dynamic, centrally-controlled wavelength allocation. The OLT maintains a database of wavelength assignments and can dynamically reconfigure the network by sending control signals to wavelength-selective switches and optical add-drop multiplexers. This allows wavelengths to be reassigned to different ONUs based on changing traffic patterns and service requirements without physical reconfiguration of filters, thereby significantly improving network flexibility and ease of reconfiguration while maintaining the ability to route wavelength-specific traffic.
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 solution enhances network flexibility and reduces equipment requirements, increases bandwidth, and allows for efficient adaptation of existing fiber networks, enabling efficient and cost-effective data transmission with reduced latency and power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) is a technology which multiplexes multiple optical carrier signals on a single optical fiber by using different wavelengths (colors) of laser light to carry different signals
Data Source
AI summary
An optical network has an optical line termination coupled to a backbone network, in particular to an optical long haul network and a local exchange coupled to an optical access network. The local exchange provides an optical connection between an optical network unit of a tree topology and the optical line termination, which is part of a ring topology. There is also described a method for processing data in such an optical network.