OTUk Signal Transparent Transmission via ODUflex Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current optical transport networks (OTNs) cannot achieve fully transparent transmission of Optical Channel Transport Unit (OTUk) signals, as only the Optical Channel Data Unit (ODUk) is transparently transmitted, while the OTUk signal remains partially opaque.

Innovation Solution

The method involves receiving an OTUk signal after optical-to-electrical conversion, mapping it into an ODUflex signal, inserting overheads, multiplexing, and wrapping it into higher-order OPU and OTU signals, enabling fully transparent transmission by unwrapping and demultiplexing processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the OTUk signal is unwrapped into an ODUk signal for transparent transmission, then the ODUk signal can be transparently transmitted end-to-end, but the OTUk control overhead cannot be fully transmitted transparently

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransparent transmissionVSAvoidOTUk control overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies nesting by wrapping the OTUk signal structure within the ODUflex signal structure. The OTUk signal includes an ODUk payload and control overhead, which are nested inside the ODUflex container. This allows the control overhead to be carried along with the payload through the flexible mapping mechanism, achieving full transparent transmission of the original OTUk signal while maintaining the benefits of flexible ODUk transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the OTUk signal is mapped into ODUflex signal with flexible mapping, then system flexibility is improved, but the complexity of signal processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem flexibilityVSAvoidsignal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality through the ODUflex signal structure that can accommodate multiple different OTUk signal types and rates. The flexible mapping mechanism allows a single ODUflex container to carry various OTUk payloads (OTU1, OTU2, OTU3) with different bit rates, making the system universally adaptable to different transmission requirements without requiring separate dedicated structures for each signal type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the mapping between OTUk signals and ODUflex containers based on signal rate and characteristics. The system can change mapping parameters such as payload size, overhead insertion, and multiplexing configurations to match different OTUk signal types, enabling flexible adaptation while managing processing complexity through standardized parameter adjustment procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If multiple ODUflex signals are multiplexed into OPUj signal, then bandwidth utilization is improved, but the complexity of multiplexing and wrapping operations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth utilizationVSAvoidmultiplexing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by combining multiple ODUflex signals into a single OPUj container through multiplexing operations. The system merges multiple lower-rate ODUflex signals (e.g., multiple ODUflex for OTU1) into a higher-rate OPUj signal (e.g., OPU2 or OPU3), efficiently utilizing bandwidth by aggregating multiple signal streams. This combining operation is performed systematically through standardized multiplexing procedures that manage complexity while maximizing bandwidth utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach ensures the OTUk signal is fully transparently transmitted across the network, improving system flexibility and performance by correctly handling overheads and bit rates, thereby overcoming the limitations of prior art.

Implementation Method 1

receiving an Optical Channel Transport Unit, OTUk signal after optical to electrical conversion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric conversion: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2410673B1Method and device for transmitting optical channel transport unit signals
Publication Date: 2015.02.18 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2410673B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2410673B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2410673B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method and a device for transmitting an Optical Channel Transport Unit signal are disclosed in the present invention. The method includes: receiving an Optical Channel Transport Unit OTUk signal after photoelectric conversion; wrapping the OTUk signal into an Optical Channel Data Unit (ODU) signal; multiplexing and mapping the ODU signal to an Optical Channel Payload Unit OPUj signal, where the OPUj signal is a High Order signal of the ODU signal; and wrapping the OPUj signal into an ODUj signal and an OTUj signal, and sending the ODUj signal and the OTUj signal. Through the embodiments of the present invention, fully transparent transmission of an OTU signal can be implemented.