Adaptive Bit Loading in Optical OFDM Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

In optical OFDM systems, high bit error rates and significant SNR degradation in subcarriers due to noise interference lead to poor system performance, particularly when a large number of subcarriers experience SNR degradation.

Innovation Solution

A communication method where the receive end determines modulation order information and power information for subcarriers experiencing SNR degradation and sends a trimmer request message to the transmit end, which adjusts the modulation and power allocation accordingly, using a trimmer request message that includes subcarrier indices, bit mapping parameters, and power allocation parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional fixed modulation and power allocation is used in optical OFDM systems, then system implementation is simple, but system performance degrades when SNR degradation occurs in subcarriers due to noise interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem performanceVSAvoidmodulation and power allocation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic modulation order and power allocation for subcarriers based on real-time SNR measurements. The system transitions from fixed to adaptive parameters, where modulation order and power allocation are adjusted according to channel conditions, resolving the contradiction between simple implementation and good performance under varying SNR conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of modulation order and power allocation dynamically based on SNR conditions. When SNR degradation is detected in subcarriers, the system adjusts these parameters to optimize performance, directly addressing the technical contradiction by making parameters adaptive rather than fixed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If adaptive modulation and power allocation is implemented to improve system performance, then bit error rate decreases, but communication overhead increases due to trimmer request messages and signaling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebit error rateVSAvoidcommunication overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by implementing adaptive modulation and power allocation only for subcarriers experiencing SNR degradation, rather than uniformly across all subcarriers. The trimmer request messages are generated selectively based on local channel conditions, reducing overall communication overhead while maintaining low bit error rates where needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the receive end monitors SNR conditions and generates trimmer request messages when degradation is detected. This feedback loop enables adaptive adjustment of modulation and power allocation parameters, achieving low bit error rates through selective signaling rather than continuous overhead

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If a large number of subcarriers experience SNR degradation, then system performance severely deteriorates, but increasing power allocation to compensate increases total power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem performanceVSAvoidtotal power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by allocating additional power only to subcarriers experiencing SNR degradation, rather than uniformly increasing power across all subcarriers. This selective power allocation maintains system performance in affected subcarriers while minimizing total power consumption increases

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically changes power allocation parameters based on SNR conditions of individual subcarriers. When SNR degradation occurs, power allocation is increased locally for affected subcarriers, optimizing the balance between system performance and total power consumption through parameter adaptation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3136643B1Adaptive bit loading and power allocation and signaling in an optical OFDM system
Publication Date: 2020.02.05 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3136643B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3136643B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3136643B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a communication method, a transmit end, and a receive end. The method of the embodiments of the present invention includes: in a case in which at least one of conditions that a system bit error rate is lower than a preset threshold, and a quantity of subcarriers, on which signal to noise ratio (SNR) degradation occurs, in an optical signal exceeds a predetermined numerical range is satisfied, determining, by a receive end according to an SNR of a to-be-adjusted subcarrier, modulation order information and power information that correspond to the to-be-adjusted subcarrier; sending, by the receive end, a trimmer request message to a transmit end, where the trimmer request message includes the modulation order information and the power information that correspond to the to-be-adjusted subcarrier; receiving, by the receive end, an effective time point sent by the transmit end; and receiving, by the receive end, a subcarrier at the effective time point by using a demodulation order corresponding to the to-be-adjusted subcarrier. In the embodiments of the present invention, modulation order information and power information that correspond to a subcarrier, on which degradation occurs, in subcarriers of an optical transmit signal are adjusted by using a trimmer request message, thereby improving system performance.