OTN Data Framing with Rate Compensation Block Indication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical transport networks face challenges in providing effective rate compensation, reducing buffering, and improving transmission performance due to issues with alignment marker deletion and high processing delays.

Innovation Solution

A data transmission method that includes mapping service data to a data frame with an overhead area containing indication information to identify rate compensation blocks in the payload area, allowing for precise insertion and elimination of rate compensation blocks at specific positions, thereby simplifying the rate compensation process and reducing processing delays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If alignment markers are deleted to increase transmission rate, then transmission efficiency is improved, but rate loss occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission rateVSAvoidrate loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the rate compensation function from the service data blocks and places it in dedicated compensation blocks within the payload area. This separation allows the system to compensate for rate loss without affecting the integrity of the actual service data, thereby maintaining transmission efficiency while eliminating rate loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the structure parameters of the data frame by introducing indication information in the overhead area that identifies rate compensation blocks. This parameter change enables the receiver to distinguish between service data blocks and compensation blocks, allowing for accurate rate compensation while maintaining high transmission efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If rate compensation blocks are inserted into service data to compensate for rate loss, then rate compensation is achieved, but the complexity of the process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverate compensation effectivenessVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces indication information as an intermediary element in the overhead area that signals the presence and position of rate compensation blocks. This intermediary simplifies the processing complexity by providing a clear mechanism for both transmitter and receiver to identify and handle compensation blocks without complex algorithms or additional processing steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If conventional rate compensation methods are used, then some rate compensation is achieved, but buffering and processing delay increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission performanceVSAvoidprocessing delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the payload area into distinct service data blocks and rate compensation blocks. This segmentation allows the receiver to process service data and compensation blocks independently, reducing buffering requirements and minimizing processing delay while maintaining reliable rate compensation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4664799A1Data transmission method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4664799A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4664799A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4(b)
  • EP4664799A1 patent drawingFigure 5(a)~5(b)

AI summary

Embodiments of this application provide a data transmission method and an apparatus, and are applied to an optical transport network. The method includes: A sending device obtains service data, maps the service data to a data frame, and sends the data frame to a receiving device. The data frame includes an overhead area and a payload area, the payload area includes a plurality of blocks, the overhead area includes indication information, and the indication information indicates whether a block in the plurality of blocks in the payload area is a rate compensation block. According to the method disclosed in this application, a design of fixed padding of a rate compensation block can be simplified, and rate compensation can be effectively performed, so that buffering and a delay are reduced, and system transmission performance is improved.