OTN ODU Frame Processing to Cut Overhead Bit Rate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Optical transport networks (OTN) experience a significant increase in data frame rates due to overhead information, leading to increased costs, which existing technologies have not adequately addressed.

Innovation Solution

A data transmission method that processes optical data units (ODU) to reduce their bit rate by changing frame structures or encoding modes, including compression encoding, deleting fixed stuff information, and optimizing mapping patterns to minimize rate increases during transmission in OTN.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If overhead information is provided for OTN data frame to enable flexible scheduling and management, then OAM function and TCM capability are improved, but the bit rate of OTN data frames increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveOAM functionVSAvoidbit rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes fixed stuff information (idle code blocks) from the OTN data frame structure. By identifying and eliminating these redundant fixed fields that do not carry useful information, the patent reduces the overall bit rate while preserving the essential overhead information needed for OAM functions and TCM capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the structure parameters of the OTN data frame by removing fixed stuff information and adjusting the frame composition. This parameter change reduces the total bit rate of the frame while maintaining the necessary overhead for operational, administrative, and maintenance functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If more overhead information is added to support OTN functions, then management capability is improved, but OTN costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanagement capabilityVSAvoidOTN costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates redundant fixed stuff information from the OTN frame structure. By removing these unnecessary overhead elements while retaining essential management overhead, the patent reduces the total bit rate and consequently lowers OTN interface rate requirements and associated costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If fixed stuff information is retained in ODU frame structure, then frame alignment is simplified, but bit rate increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveframe alignmentVSAvoidbit rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes fixed stuff information (idle code blocks) from the ODU frame payload area. By eliminating these redundant fixed fields, the patent reduces the bit rate while using alternative mechanisms (such as mapping patterns and overhead fields) to maintain frame alignment capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4443779B1Data transmission method and apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.04.22 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

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AI summary

This application provides a data transmission method and apparatus. The method includes: processing, by a network device, a to-be-sent optical data unit ODD to obtain another ODU, where a bit rate of the another ODU is lower than a bit rate of the ODU; and sending, by the network device, the another ODU. In embodiments of this application, the ODU is processed to obtain the another ODU with a lower bit rate, and this helps reduce a rate increase when service data is transmitted in an OTN, so as to reduce an OTN interface rate and OTN costs.