Optical Regeneration Planning Tool for OSNR Margin Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical networks require expensive optical regenerators to maintain signal quality, which are costly to install and maintain, especially in geographically distant locations, necessitating a method to minimize their use while ensuring reliable communication.
Innovation Solution
A method to plan optical network element deployment by modeling Optical Signal-to-Noise Ratio (OSNR) margins on a path-by-path basis, identifying optimal regeneration locations within the network topology, and allowing users to select these locations for regeneration, thereby reducing the need for additional regenerators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical regenerators are deployed to maintain signal quality, then reliability of communication is improved, but cost and complexity of the network increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses virtual copies (logical representations) of optical network elements and paths to model and analyze OSNR margins without requiring physical deployment of regenerators. The virtual topology allows planning and optimization of regenerator placement before actual implementation, reducing unnecessary network complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary modeling and analysis of OSNR margins and regenerator requirements before actual network deployment. By simulating different scenarios and identifying optimal regenerator locations in advance, the network can be configured with minimum necessary regenerators, avoiding over-provisioning and reducing complexity.
2Reliability
If optical regenerators are deployed in geographically distant locations, then signal quality is maintained, but installation and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary modeling and optimization to identify the minimum number and optimal locations of regenerators needed to maintain signal quality. By analyzing OSNR margins and network topology in advance, the system determines exactly where regenerators are necessary, avoiding deployment in locations where they would be costly but unnecessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system models and optimizes regenerator placement by changing parameters such as regenerator location, wavelength assignment, and network configuration to minimize the total number of regenerators required. This parametric optimization identifies cost-effective solutions that maintain signal quality while reducing installation and maintenance costs.
3Ease of manufacture
If the number of regenerators is reduced, then cost is minimized, but OSNR margins may be insufficient for reliable communication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary modeling and analysis to determine the minimum number of regenerators required to maintain adequate OSNR margins. By simulating different regenerator configurations and analyzing their impact on OSNR, the system identifies the optimal balance between cost and reliability, ensuring sufficient margins with minimum regenerators.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback through the modeling process, showing how different regenerator placements affect OSNR margins. This feedback allows network planners to adjust configurations to achieve adequate margins with the fewest regenerators, optimizing the trade-off between cost and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Optical regeneration is expensive to implement and maintain. A method or corresponding apparatus in an example embodiment of the present invention enables a user to plan an optical regeneration in a network with a reduction of optical regeneration compared to unplanned deployment. An optical regeneration planning tool according to an example embodiment of the present invention can graphically display a representation of a network topology with optical regeneration sites and enable the user to plan optical regenerations at a subset of the sites as a function of characteristics of models of optical network elements and paths within the network topology. Through use of the optical regeneration planning tool, a service provider can save on network deployment and future servicing of optical regeneration equipment.