Optical Data Stream Distribution for 800G+ Low-Power Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current optical communication systems face challenges in supporting high transmission rates exceeding 800 Gbps without requiring high-power-consuming devices, especially in metro telecommunication and data center scenarios, due to the need for higher baud rates which lead to increased power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A data processing method that involves FEC encoding and symbol mapping across multiple polarization directions, distributing bits evenly across different wavelengths and polarization directions, and performing parallel transmission to improve transmission rates without increasing baud rates, while maintaining low power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If higher baud rate is used to achieve higher transmission rate, then transmission rate is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission rateVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the data stream into multiple parallel streams and distributes them across multiple wavelengths and polarization directions. By dividing the transmission load across multiple channels rather than increasing the baud rate of a single channel, the system achieves higher transmission rates without the power consumption increase associated with higher baud rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-channel transmission approach to a multi-dimensional approach by utilizing multiple wavelengths and polarization directions simultaneously. This dimensional expansion allows the system to achieve higher transmission rates through parallel transmission across multiple dimensions rather than increasing the baud rate in a single dimension.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If higher-order modulation is used to achieve higher transmission rate, then transmission rate is improved, but transmission distance is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission rateVSAvoidtransmission distance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the high-rate transmission requirement across multiple parallel channels with different modulation orders. By distributing the data streams across multiple wavelengths and polarization directions, the system can use lower-order modulations (which have better distance performance) in each individual channel while achieving high overall transmission rate through parallel transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the modulation parameters across different channels rather than using a single high-order modulation for all channels. By assigning different modulation orders to different wavelength-polarization channels, the system optimizes the balance between transmission rate and transmission distance for each channel while maintaining high overall throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If FEC encoding is applied to combat optical impairment, then bit error rate is reduced, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebit error rateVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies FEC encoding independently to multiple parallel data streams rather than to a single high-rate stream. By segmenting the encoding process across multiple channels, the system can use more efficient FEC codes with lower processing complexity in each channel while maintaining overall reliability through the parallel structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies FEC encoding to multiple parallel streams, effectively applying the error correction function multiple times across different channels. This partial application of FEC to each channel (rather than one comprehensive FEC system) reduces the complexity burden on any single processing unit while maintaining overall system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4668618A1Data processing method and apparatus for optical communication
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4668618A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4668618A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4668618A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

This application relates to the field of optical communication technologies, and discloses a data processing method and apparatus in optical communication, to provide a data processing solution applicable to scenarios in which a transmission rate is higher than 800 Gbps. In embodiments of this application, data streams are distributed, so that bits obtained through FEC encoding processing are relatively evenly distributed in different data streams, for example, on optical signals with different wavelengths and in different polarization directions, or on different optical fibers and in different polarization directions. The way of distribution makes parallel transmission of data streams possible, thereby improving a transmission rate. Additionally, this application does not require devices with a higher baud rate, and is applicable to metro telecommunication transmission and data center transmission scenarios that require low power consumption. Additionally, because the bits obtained through FEC encoding processing are relatively evenly distributed in the different data streams, decoding errors of a receiver are relatively evenly distributed on a plurality of paths of FEC decoding processing, so that codec performance can be improved.