Optical Switch Interconnect Sub-systems for Data Center Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Data Center Networks using electrical switches face limitations in transmission rate, high power consumption due to frequent Optical-Electrical and Electrical-Optical conversions, and require frequent upgrades to support increasing demands, leading to increased costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
An intelligence-defined optical tunnel network system with optical switch interconnect sub-systems that utilize failover modules and micro-control units to manage signal intensity, allowing for efficient data transmission with low latency and high bandwidth, and enabling flexible deployment and scalability without the need for frequent hardware upgrades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional electrical switches are used for data exchanging, then the network structure is simple and easy to implement, but the transmission rate is limited and power consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional electrical switches with optical switches that use optical signals directly for data transmission. This substitution eliminates the need for repeated Optical-Electrical and Electrical-Optical conversions, thereby reducing power consumption while significantly increasing transmission rate. The optical switching mechanism uses light-based signal routing instead of electrical signal processing, which is inherently more energy-efficient and faster.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameter of the switching system from electrical signals to optical signals. By using optical carriers for data transmission and switching, the system achieves higher transmission rates and lower power consumption. The optical signals maintain their intensity and properties throughout transmission without requiring conversion to electrical domain, thus improving both productivity and energy efficiency.
2Loss of time
If conventional electrical switches perform computation to determine packet routing, then routing decisions can be made, but latency increases and cooling costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces computational routing decisions with optical signal-based routing. Instead of using electrical switches that require computation to determine packet destinations, the system uses optical switches that route signals based on optical path configurations. This eliminates computational overhead, reduces processing latency, and decreases heat generation, thereby lowering cooling costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables data signals to skip the computational processing stage entirely by using optical switching. The routing decisions are made at the optical layer through pre-configured optical paths, allowing data to be switched directly without stopping for electrical computation. This skipping of the computational step dramatically reduces latency and energy consumption.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system structure of conventional electronic switches is fixed, then the system is stable, but it is difficult to upgrade to support more racks or servers with higher performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic reconfigurability to the optical switching system. The optical switch interconnect subsystems can be dynamically reconfigured to support different network topologies, bandwidth requirements, and device connections. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to upgrading needs without requiring complete system replacement, thereby improving upgradeability while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the optical switching system into modular interconnect subsystems that can be independently configured and upgraded. Each optical switch interconnect subsystem operates as a semi-independent unit, allowing selective upgrading of specific segments without affecting the entire network. This segmentation enables flexible scaling to support more racks or servers while keeping individual component complexity manageable.
4Productivity
If electronic switches are replaced or upgraded to increase transmission rate, then performance improves, but the cost to establish or maintain the network increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical switching infrastructure with optical switching infrastructure, achieving higher transmission rates inherently through the physics of optical signal transmission. Optical signals can carry more data at higher speeds without requiring the same level of infrastructure upgrades as electrical systems. This substitution provides sustained high performance without proportionally increasing maintenance costs, as optical systems have fewer active components requiring maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
An intelligence-defined optical tunnel network system includes multiple Optical Switch Interconnect Sub-systems (OSIS), in which a first OSIS is configured to transmit a first lateral transmission optical signal via a first line to a second OSIS, and transmit a second lateral transmission optical signal via a second line to the second OSIS. The second OSIS includes a failover sub-module and a micro-control unit. The failover sub-module is configured to output one of the first and the second lateral transmission optical signal based on a selective signal. The micro-control unit is configured to output the selective signal to the failover sub-module to control the failover sub-module output the second lateral transmission optical signal if a signal intensity of the first lateral transmission optical signal is lower than a threshold value.