Remote Function Management for Optical Transmission Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing optical transmission equipment requires customers to purchase and upgrade devices with various functions, leading to increased costs and complex upgrade processes, as manufacturers need to provide customized product lineups to meet diverse customer demands for modulation formats, error correction functions, and transmission speeds.
Innovation Solution
A remote management system that enables or disables specific functions in processing equipment using a function authentication key, allowing customers to remotely manage and upgrade functions without replacing devices, by using a processing unit with a retaining unit for device identification and a control unit to set enabled or disabled functions based on the authentication key.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manufacturers prepare various product lineups to meet diverse customer demands for different functions and specifications, then customer satisfaction and adaptability improve, but device prices and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal processing equipment design where a single device can perform multiple different functions through software control. The control unit can dynamically switch between various processing functions (e.g., different modulation formats like QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, different transmission speeds, error correction functions) without requiring separate hardware devices for each function type. This multi-functionality approach allows one physical device to replace what would traditionally require multiple specialized devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic function activation where the control unit can enable or disable specific functions based on real-time operational requirements and authentication keys. Functions are not statically fixed but can be dynamically adjusted during operation, allowing the system to adapt its capabilities flexibly. This dynamic control mechanism enables the same hardware to serve different functional configurations as needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manufacturers provide customized product lineups for each customer's specific needs, then function adaptability improves, but costs for both manufacturers and customers increase
Solution Approach 1:
By designing a universal processing equipment that can perform multiple functions through software control rather than dedicated hardware for each function, the patent eliminates the need for customers to purchase multiple specialized devices or pay premium prices for customized hardware configurations. The single universal device provides all necessary functions at a standardized price point.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses software-based function implementation where functional capabilities are replicated through control software rather than requiring physical hardware copies for each function. This software copying approach allows unlimited function variations without increasing hardware costs or requiring separate physical devices for each function type.
3Adaptability or versatility
If customers upgrade functions by replacing devices with higher-function models, then functional capability improves, but upgrade complexity and downtime increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables dynamic function upgrades through software updates and authentication key changes rather than hardware replacement. The control unit can activate new functions or enhance existing ones through software modifications, allowing customers to upgrade capabilities while keeping the same physical device, thus avoiding complex replacement procedures and system downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
Function upgrades are achieved by copying and loading new software functionality into the existing control unit rather than replacing the entire device. This software-based upgrade mechanism allows functional enhancements to be applied rapidly without physical intervention or extended downtime.
4Device complexity
If a single device performs multiple functions through software control, then device complexity reduces, but security risks for unauthorized function access increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an authentication key as an intermediary security mechanism between the user and the function activation process. Before the control unit enables any additional function, it verifies the authenticity of the provided authentication key. This intermediary verification layer prevents unauthorized access to premium or additional functions while maintaining the simplified universal device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary authentication verification before allowing function activation. The control unit checks the authentication key in advance before enabling any function, ensuring that security verification occurs beforehand rather than during operation. This preliminary security check prevents unauthorized function access while maintaining system simplicity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A processing equipment includes a processing unit (12) having a plurality of functions. A retaining unit (11) retains a device identifier capable of identifying the processing equipment. An interface unit (6) receives a function authentication key which is a code for setting a specific function among the plurality of functions to be enabled or disabled. A control unit (13) sets the specific function to be enabled or disabled according to the function authentication key when a device identifier included in the received function authentication key coincides with the device identifier retained in the retaining unit (11).