Optical Network Wavelength Failure Detection via Event Recording

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional passive optical networks (PONs) face challenges in detecting wavelength-specific failures, which are concealed until all wavelengths are allocated, leading to inefficiencies and delayed detection of defective channels.

Innovation Solution

A method where optical network elements record and convey events during a wavelength scan, allowing a management system to identify and address potentially defective wavelengths before they reach capacity, using a centralized database to track status and allocate operational wavelengths effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If wavelength allocation is performed without failure detection mechanism, then network capacity is maximized, but wavelength-specific failures remain undetected until all wavelengths are allocated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork capacityVSAvoidfailure detection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by recording login scan events and checking wavelength availability status before all wavelengths are allocated. The OLT proactively monitors and detects defective wavelengths in advance, maintaining a record of available wavelengths and notifying ONUs before they attempt to use defective channels, thus preventing allocation failures while preserving network capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If ONU locks to alternative wavelength upon failure, then communication continuity is maintained, but defective wavelengths are concealed and allocation efficiency degrades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication continuityVSAvoidfailure visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by having ONUs report login scan events and wavelength allocation status back to the OLT. The OLT collects this information, analyzes wavelength availability, and provides feedback notifications to ONUs about defective wavelengths. This feedback loop ensures communication continuity while preventing concealment of failure information, as the OLT maintains an accurate view of wavelength status based on reported events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If centralized event processing is implemented, then wavelength failure detection is enabled, but network complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefailure detection accuracyVSAvoidnetwork processing architecture
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges event processing functions by having the OLT centrally collect and process login scan events from multiple ONUs. Instead of distributing complex detection logic across all network elements, the OLT consolidates the event recording, wavelength availability checking, and failure detection functions, simplifying the overall network architecture while enabling reliable failure detection through centralized intelligence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2497212B1Method and device for processing data in an optical network
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 XIEON NETWORKS SARL
  • EP2497212B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

A method and a device for processing data in an optical network are provided, said method comprising the steps of (a) events of a login scan are recorded by a first optical network element; (b) the events are conveyed to a second optical network element; and (c) the events are processed by the second optical network element. Furthermore, a communication system is suggested comprising said device.