Optical Network Device Synchronization Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current optical transport networks (OTNs) face challenges in providing high-precision time synchronization due to asymmetry in uplink and downlink paths, leading to inadequate performance in meeting the requirements of 5G wireless technologies.

Innovation Solution

A data transmission method that involves extracting synchronization information from service data streams, regenerating it based on local clock information, and mapping it to an optical carrier container, along with the service data stream, to improve time synchronization precision. This method classifies packets, reorganizes them, and maps them to the optical carrier container to reduce bandwidth waste and enhance transmission efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If transparent transmission method is used for OTN, then bandwidth utilization is improved, but time synchronization precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth utilizationVSAvoidtime synchronization precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts synchronization information from the service data stream and processes it separately through synchronous mapping. This separates the synchronization function from the transparent transmission path, allowing the main data stream to maintain high bandwidth utilization while the extracted synchronization information receives dedicated processing to ensure precise time synchronization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the service data stream to identify and extract synchronization information packets. By dividing the data stream into regular data packets and synchronization information packets, the system can handle them through different mapping paths - synchronous mapping for synchronization packets and transparent transmission for regular data, thus resolving the contradiction between bandwidth efficiency and synchronization precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If synchronous mapping is used for service data stream, then time synchronization precision is improved, but bandwidth utilization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime synchronization precisionVSAvoidbandwidth utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different transmission qualities to different parts of the data stream. Synchronization information packets receive synchronous mapping with high precision timing, while regular service data packets use transparent transmission for efficient bandwidth utilization. This local differentiation of quality ensures that only the critical synchronization portions consume additional resources, minimizing the impact on overall bandwidth utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If transparent transmission method is used, then device complexity is reduced, but time synchronization performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission processing complexityVSAvoidtime synchronization performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary identification and extraction of synchronization information packets before the main transmission process. By pre-marking and separating synchronization packets, the system prepares the data stream in advance, allowing downstream devices to simply forward the synchronized data without complex processing, thus maintaining low device complexity while improving synchronization performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3687088B1Method for transmitting data in optical network and optical network device
Publication Date: 2025.03.26 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3687088B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3687088B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3687088B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

This application provides a data transmission method in an optical network and an optical network device. The method includes: obtaining, by a first device, first synchronization information from a first service data stream, and determining a to-be-transmitted service data stream; generating second synchronization information based on the first synchronization information; mapping the second synchronization information and the to-be-transmitted service data stream to an optical carrier container; and sending the optical carrier container. A second device receives the optical carrier container; obtains a second service data stream and third synchronization information from the optical carrier container through demapping; generates fourth synchronization information based on the third synchronization information; and inserts the fourth synchronization information into the second service data stream, to obtain a third service data stream. In this way, time synchronization precision is improved.