Optical Ring Network Device Reroutes Buffered Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
In a wavelength-multiplexed optical ring network, when the master device fails, untransmitted data accumulates in the buffer of slave devices, causing transmission delays until a new master device takes over.
Innovation Solution
A communication device with a determination unit to identify failed wavelengths, a scheduler unit to transmit buffered data at other wavelengths, and an allocation control unit to suspend new data allocation at failed wavelengths, allowing data to be rerouted and reducing delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a slave device waits for a new master device to take over after master device failure, then system reliability is maintained through proper failover, but transmission delay increases due to data accumulation in buffers
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary action by having the slave device proactively take over master device functions immediately upon detecting master failure, rather than waiting for a controlled failover process. The slave device starts transmitting allocation signals and controlling data transmission timings before a formal master device replacement occurs, thereby preventing buffer accumulation and reducing transmission delay while maintaining system reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies dynamics by enabling the slave device to dynamically transition from a passive waiting state to an active master device state. The slave device monitors master device status, detects failures, and adaptively changes its operational mode to maintain data flow, making the system more responsive and reducing idle time during failover
2Productivity
If data continues to be allocated to the buffer at the failure wavelength, then buffer utilization is maintained, but transmission delay increases due to accumulating untransmitted data
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies the taking out principle by extracting data from the failed wavelength's buffer and redirecting it to alternative wavelengths for transmission. The slave device identifies data accumulated at the failure wavelength and reroutes it through other operational wavelengths, removing the bottleneck caused by the failed wavelength while maintaining overall system productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies parameter changes by dynamically altering the transmission wavelength parameter when a failure is detected. Instead of continuously attempting transmission at the failed wavelength, the system changes the operational parameter to use alternative wavelengths, adapting to the changed system conditions and preventing data accumulation delays
3Loss of time
If the slave device immediately takes over as master device upon detecting failure, then transmission delay is reduced, but system complexity increases due to additional failure detection and takeover control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies self-service by enabling the slave device to autonomously detect master device failures and initiate takeover procedures without external intervention. The slave device monitors allocation signals, detects absence of master signals, and automatically assumes master functions, making the system self-healing and reducing delay while adding only minimal complexity through automated monitoring
4Device complexity
If the master device controls all optical transmission devices using a single wavelength, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability decreases when that wavelength fails
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies segmentation by dividing the control function across multiple wavelengths instead of relying on a single wavelength for all control signals. Different wavelengths can carry control signals for different slave devices or different types of control information, so that failure of one wavelength does not disable all control functions, thereby improving reliability while maintaining manageable complexity through modular organization
Data Source
AI summary
A communication device is connected to a wavelength-multiplexed optical ring network, and performs communication by performing time-division multiplexing on optical signals at each wavelength. In a case where a control signal transmitted from the master communication device is not received in a predetermined period, the communication device instructs a scheduler unit to suspend transmission of data at a failure wavelength that is the wavelength at which the host communication device has been determined not to be operating properly, also instructs the scheduler unit to transmit the data stored in the buffer of the failure wavelength at another wavelength, and suspends allocation of new data to the buffer of the failure wavelength. Thus, the delay in transmission of data at the failure wavelength can be shortened.