Optical Transmission Route Identification via Delay Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Identifying the transmission route of an optical transmission system is challenging when communication with equipment on the path is not possible, especially due to system design limitations or communication circuit breakdowns, and existing methods may not work when the light spectrum shape does not change in route switching units.

Innovation Solution

A management device that collects and registers route delay information for each transmission route, measures the transmission delay time, and identifies the corresponding route based on this information, allowing for route identification even without communication with equipment on the path.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the light spectrum shape method is used to identify transmission routes, then route identification can be performed under normal communication conditions, but the method fails when the light spectrum shape does not change in route switching units

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroute identification accuracyVSAvoidmethod applicability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the measurement parameter from light spectrum shape to transmission delay time. By measuring the delay time of test packets transmitted through different routes and comparing it with pre-registered delay time information, the system can identify the current transmission route even when route switching units do not alter the light spectrum shape, thus resolving the limitation of the spectrum-based method.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of information

If communication with equipment on the transmission path is required for route identification, then configuration information can be obtained, but communication becomes impossible due to system design limitations or breakdowns

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration information acquisitionVSAvoidcommunication availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention enables the optical transmission system to identify its own transmission route using test packets and delay time measurements without requiring communication with external equipment on the transmission path. The system uses pre-registered delay time information and compares it with measured values to self-determine the current route, eliminating dependency on equipment communication that may be unavailable due to system design or failures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If route delay information is pre-registered for each transmission route, then accurate route identification can be achieved, but information storage and management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroute identification accuracyVSAvoidinformation management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs preliminary registration of delay time information for each transmission route before actual route identification is needed. This pre-registration stores the characteristic delay times of different routes in advance, allowing the system to simply compare measured delay times against this pre-stored information during operation, thereby achieving accurate route identification without complex real-time analysis or information management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3439202B1Management device, and identification method and storage medium having program thereof stored therein
Publication Date: 2022.05.04 NEC CORP
  • EP3439202B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3439202B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3439202B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention identifies a transmission route of a transmission path, even when communication with devices within the transmission path of a light transmission system is not possible. This management device is for a light transmission system having a transmission path in which the transmission route length varies depending on transmission routes between first and second light transmission/reception devices, and is provided with a management unit that pre-registers route delay information showing transmission delay time for each of the transmission routes, collects measurement delay time which is transmission delay time of the transmission path measured by the first light transmission/reception device, and identifies the transmission route corresponding to the measurement delay time, on the basis of the route delay information and the measurement delay time.