Optical Network Device Port Mirroring for Remote Physical Layer Analysis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical network devices face challenges in analyzing physical layer data without requiring direct physical access or additional devices, which is essential for debugging and monitoring network performance, especially in passive optical networks (PONs).
Innovation Solution
An optical network device (OND) is configured to capture and output a representation of physical layer data, segmenting it into frames with contextual information, allowing analysis without direct attachment to the network, enabling remote monitoring and debugging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If direct physical access to the optical network is required for data capture, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the data capture functionality directly into the optical network device by integrating a data capture module within the device architecture. This allows the device to capture its own transmitted and received data without requiring external tapping devices or direct physical access points, thereby maintaining measurement precision while reducing device complexity and improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical network device performs self-monitoring by capturing its own transmitted data and received data through integrated capture modules. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate external monitoring devices to physically access the network, resolving the contradiction by enabling accurate data capture through the device's own resources without additional complexity.
2Measurement precision
If additional external devices are used for network monitoring, then measurement capability is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (data transmission, data reception, and data capture for monitoring) into a single optical network device. The device includes transmit modules, receive modules, and integrated data capture modules that work together internally, eliminating the need for separate external monitoring devices and simplifying network setup and maintenance while maintaining full measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical network device is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a communication device and a monitoring device simultaneously. The integrated data capture modules enable the device to perform its primary communication function while also capturing and providing access to transmitted and received data for network monitoring, thereby improving measurement capability without requiring additional external devices.
3Ease of operation
If physical layer data is captured and output for remote analysis, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of time in data processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the data capture modules continuously capture transmitted and received data in real-time as it passes through the device, and by pre-processing the data through encapsulation into standardized formats. This preliminary preparation of data in ready-to-transmit formats reduces the time required for remote analysis systems to process the data, thereby reducing overall processing time loss while maintaining ease of remote access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary data encapsulation layer that formats captured physical layer data into standardized representations suitable for remote transmission and analysis. This intermediary formatting process, while adding a processing step, actually reduces overall time loss by preparing data in advance in a universally compatible format that eliminates the need for format conversion at the remote analysis system.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for obtaining, by an optical network device (OND) coupled to an optical network, physical layer data of the optical network; generating, by the OND, an encapsulated representation of the physical layer data of the optical network; and outputting the encapsulated representation of the physical layer data to a diagnostic device.