Passive Optical Module Inventory via Daisy Chain Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical communications systems with multiple shelves require numerous electrical cables to route power to passive modules, leading to increased costs and complexity, and existing inventory techniques fail to efficiently manage and discover passive module positions and attributes.
Innovation Solution
An optical networking system that forms a daisy chain of shelves with unpowered passive optical networking modules, using an active optical networking module and passive power communication source to distribute power and enable communication, allowing passive modules to determine their addresses through a crosshatch connection pattern without the need for powered controllers on each shelf.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If numerous electrical cables are routed from powered modules to passive modules, then power can be delivered to passive modules, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines power delivery and data communication functions into a single optical cable connection. The optical cable that would otherwise be used solely for data transmission is utilized to deliver both optical signals and electrical power to passive modules, eliminating the need for separate power cables and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical cable is designed to serve multiple functions: data communication and power delivery. By making the optical cable universal for both purposes, the system reduces the total number of cables needed and simplifies the infrastructure while maintaining reliable power delivery to passive modules.
2Ease of manufacture
If manual configuration is used for passive modules, then implementation is simple, but inventory management efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Passive modules automatically perform self-identification and self-inventory by responding to discovery signals from the optical line terminal. The modules autonomously provide their status and location information without requiring manual configuration, thereby maintaining implementation simplicity while dramatically improving inventory management efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the optical line terminal sends discovery signals and receives automatic responses from passive modules. This feedback loop enables automated inventory management, allowing the system to track and manage passive modules efficiently without manual intervention while keeping the implementation straightforward.
3Device complexity
If passive modules remain unpowered, then cable requirements are reduced, but ability to discover and manage modules is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges power delivery and information exchange functions into the same optical communication channel. By superimposing electrical signals on the optical cable, the system maintains minimal cable requirements while enabling passive modules to be discovered, inventoried, and managed through automated communication protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
Example embodiments include an optical networking system (e.g., apparatus) and corresponding method. According to some embodiments, a plurality of shelves may be interconnected to form a daisy chain, each shelf including unpowered passive optical modules and the daisy chain including an active module having a passive power communication source. The passive power communication source may distribute passive power to memory devices on the one unpowered passive optical networking modules. The memory devices may provide respective communication as a function of interconnections of the daisy chain and passive power distributed by the passive power communication source. Advantages include unique identification of the memory devices without requiring active power to their corresponding modules, and continuous discovery and inventory of such memory devices. Such embodiments may also help network planners better manage and end-to-end optical circuit which may reduce amplification or regeneration nodes creating a more cost efficient solution.