OTN Frame Payload Area Segmentation for Fault Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current fault detection methods in optical transport networks (OTNs) are inefficient, leading to prolonged switching times when a fault occurs, resulting in low protection switching efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The OTN frame is divided into multiple payload areas, each containing payload check information to facilitate rapid fault detection, allowing for partial payload data inspection and improved detection efficiency, with buffering and alignment mechanisms to ensure lossless service switching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the OTN device waits to receive the complete OTN frame before performing fault detection, then the detection is comprehensive and accurate, but the fault detection time is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault detection accuracyVSAvoidfault detection time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the OTN frame into multiple payload areas (first payload area, second payload area, etc.), each with its own payload check information. The OTN device performs fault detection on each payload area separately as data arrives, rather than waiting for the complete frame. This segmentation enables partial frame detection, significantly reducing fault detection time while maintaining detection accuracy through distributed check information across all payload areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the OTN device performs fault detection on the entire OTN frame at once, then the detection is thorough, but the protection switching efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault detection thoroughnessVSAvoidprotection switching efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the fault detection process into multiple independent operations on different payload areas. Each payload area has dedicated payload check information that enables independent verification. This allows the OTN device to detect faults in individual payload areas without waiting for other areas, enabling faster protection switching while maintaining thorough detection through coverage of all payload areas with their respective check information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent embeds payload check information within each payload area in advance, before transmission. This preliminary preparation of check information in each segment allows the receiving OTN device to perform immediate fault detection on arriving data without needing to accumulate the entire frame first, thereby improving protection switching efficiency while ensuring reliable detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If the OTN device uses traditional optical module and OTU overhead detection, then the system structure is simple, but the fault detection time is at millisecond level which is too slow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection system structureVSAvoidfault detection time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces payload check information in each payload area that enables distributed, parallel fault detection across multiple segments of the OTN frame. This segmentation approach allows the OTN device to detect faults in individual payload areas as data arrives, reducing detection time from millisecond level to much faster speeds, while adding only moderate complexity through the integration of check information into the existing frame structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3429138B1Fault detection method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2024.11.27 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3429138B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3429138B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b
  • EP3429138B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a fault detection method and device. The method includes: obtaining, by an optical transport network OTN device, a first OTN frame, where the first OTN frame includes at least two payload areas, and each of the at least two payload areas includes payload check information and payload data; and performing fault detection according to the payload check information, where the payload check information is used to check payload data of a payload area in which the payload check information is located. In the embodiments of the present invention, an OTN frame is divided into at least two payload areas, and corresponding payload check information is carried in each payload area, so that efficiency of fault detection is improved.