Dynamic OTUflex Resizing Protocol for Optical Transport Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current optical transport networks with fixed OTUk bit-rates lead to inefficient power consumption and digital processing due to partially saturated fiber spectrum, as they do not adapt to varying ODUflex bit-rates, resulting in suboptimal spectral usage and increased power consumption.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a flexible OTUk signal that adjusts its bit-rate according to the ODUflex bit-rate, eliminating the need for intermediate HO-ODUk layers and allowing for direct multiplexing of ODUflex into OTUflex frames, with a resizing protocol that dynamically adjusts the bit-rate based on traffic demands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fixed OTUk bit-rates are used in optical transport networks, then network stability and compatibility are maintained, but spectral efficiency deteriorates and power consumption increases due to partially saturated fiber spectrum

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork stabilityVSAvoidspectral efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic bit-rate adjustment in OTUk signals by introducing a resizing protocol that allows the optical transport network to adapt transmission rates according to actual traffic demands. The system transitions from fixed bit-rate operation to dynamic rate adaptation, enabling the network to optimize spectral efficiency while maintaining stability through controlled resizing operations and protocol management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If fixed OTUk bit-rates are used, then device complexity is reduced, but power consumption increases due to inability to adapt to varying traffic demands

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal structure simplicityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the bit-rate parameter of OTUk signals dynamically based on traffic conditions. By introducing resizing capability that modifies the bit-rate parameter according to actual data volume, the system enables power optimization without fundamentally altering the signal structure or requiring complete architectural redesign, thus balancing complexity and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If intermediate HO-ODUk layers are used for ODUflex mapping, then compatibility with existing OTN hierarchy is maintained, but device complexity and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with OTN hierarchyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the intermediate HO-ODUk mapping layer from the traditional OTN hierarchy. By directly mapping ODUflex signals into OTUk frames without requiring the intermediate high-order ODUk container, the system reduces processing complexity and device requirements while maintaining adaptability through the resizing protocol that ensures compatibility with existing network elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Productivity

If ODUflex is directly multiplexed into OTUflex frames, then processing efficiency is improved, but measurement and detection difficulty increases due to dynamic bit-rate changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidbit-rate detection
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism through the resizing protocol that communicates bit-rate changes between network elements. The protocol provides feedback information about the current ODUflex bit-rate to receiving nodes, enabling them to accurately detect and measure the dynamic rate without complex processing, thus maintaining processing efficiency while solving the detection difficulty.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2745476B1Resizing existing traffic flow in optical transport network
Publication Date: 2016.06.29 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP2745476B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2745476B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2745476B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In an optical transport network a traffic flow comprises data grouped into a number of resizable data units, encapsulated by optical transport frames, each having a frame overhead. A rate of the traffic flow is changed bychanging (220) the data unit overhead and changing (230) at the source node the frame overhead to indicate a change in rate of an optical signal carrying the traffic flow. An optical transmission part (70) is tuned to transmit at the new rate, and at any intermediate nodes (20) along the route the indication of the change in rate is detected in the frame overhead so that the traffic flow on a next optical link is transmitted at the new rate. Thus optical bandwidth allowed for enlarging the data units, can be saved, and electrical processing of data units at the nodes can be simplified,reducing power consumption.