Optical Transport Payload Blocks for Flexible Small-Service Bandwidth

The payload area of the optical transport network frame is divided into multiple payload blocks, where each payload block can independently carry a service container. This segmentation allows the system to allocate only the necessary bandwidth resources to each service, rather than forcing all services into fixed 1.25 Gbps time slots. The payload blocks are further grouped into payload block groups, enabling flexible resource allocation that matches actual service bandwidth requirements and dramatically improves bandwidth utilization for small-bandwidth services.

The patent introduces dynamic payload block grouping where N continuous payload blocks form a payload block group, and the N continuous payload blocks located in the same payload block group carry the same service container. This dynamic structure allows the system to adapt to different service bandwidths by adjusting the number of payload blocks per group, while the overhead area carries indication information to manage this flexibility. The dynamic approach maintains manageable complexity through structured organization and clear indication mechanisms.

The patent applies local quality by allowing different payload blocks and payload block groups to have different characteristics based on the specific service requirements. Each payload block group can be configured with appropriate N values to match the bandwidth needs of different services, creating locally optimized resource allocation. This enables bandwidth-efficient carrying of small-bandwidth services while maintaining the ability to support various service types through differentiated resource allocation.