OTN Termination Sink Overhead Extraction for APS Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical transport networks (OTN) face challenges in efficiently managing and switching backward defect indication (BDI) and backward error indication (BEI) reporting between ODUk termination sources and sinks, requiring an economical solution for piping OTN overhead and defects to the automatic protection switching (APS) controller within tight time budgets.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that extract identification and protection switching data from OTN signals, insert it into Ethernet packets, and process them through an overhead processor for efficient transmission and switching between termination sources and sinks, utilizing an Ethernet switch for self-learning source and destination addresses and multi-card network element switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional OTN network elements use multiple linecards with multiple ODUk termination sources and sinks, then the network capacity and bandwidth utilization increase, but the complexity of managing many-to-many connections between termination sources and sinks increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary connection matrix that acts as a mediator between ODUk termination sources and sinks. Instead of directly managing complex many-to-many connections between numerous linecards, the connection matrix provides a simplified interface that routes connections through a standardized structure, reducing the management complexity while supporting a large number of termination points.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection matrix is designed as a universal component that can handle multiple ODUk termination sources and sinks simultaneously. It provides a multi-functional solution that manages various connection types (BDI, BEI, overhead piping) through a single standardized mechanism, eliminating the need for separate management systems for each connection pair.
2Reliability
If OTN overhead and defect data are piped to the APS controller for automatic protection switching, then the protection switching capability is enabled, but the system complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential overhead and defect data needed for protection switching and sends it to the APS controller, rather than piping all OTN overhead data. This selective extraction reduces the data volume and processing complexity at the APS controller while maintaining the necessary protection switching functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the APS controller to autonomously process protection switching decisions based on the extracted overhead and defect data, without requiring complex external management systems. The APS controller self-manages the protection switching operations, reducing overall system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If BDI and BEI reporting is implemented between ODUk termination sources and sinks, then the network monitoring and error detection capability is improved, but the overhead data transmission requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and reports only the critical BDI and BEI data elements that are essential for error detection and network monitoring. By selecting only the most important error indicators rather than transmitting all overhead data, the system maintains high measurement precision for error detection while minimizing the overhead data transmission volume.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method and system for switching between signals in an optical transport network. The method includes extracting identification data from an OTN signal at a termination sink and inserting the identification data into an Ethernet packet. The system includes a termination sink configured to extract identification data from an OTN signal and insert the identification data into an Ethernet packet.