PLOAM Message Segmentation for GPON Bandwidth Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing GPON technology faces inefficiencies in PLOAM message transmission, including low efficiency when multiple ONUs are connected, waste of bandwidth due to unnecessary information transmission, and lack of flexibility in transmitting varying amounts of data, along with security concerns due to unencrypted messages.

Innovation Solution

A method that divides a PLOAM message into multiple new messages each carrying a single type of information, allowing for flexible assembly and transmission of only necessary data, with optional encryption to enhance security, using a transmitter that assembles and transmits these new messages in groups with shared CRCs to optimize bandwidth usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the PLOAM message is transmitted in clear text form, then the transmission process is simple and easy to implement, but the security of the GPON system is threatened due to illegal monitoring

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of implementationVSAvoidsecurity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The PLOAM message is segmented into multiple fields (preamble, delimiter, upstream overhead, serial number, random delay, optical power level mode). Only specific fields containing sensitive information (serial number, random delay, optical power level mode) are encrypted, while other fields remain in clear text. This segmentation approach maintains ease of implementation while improving security by protecting only the necessary sensitive data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the whole PLOAM message is encrypted, then the security is improved, but the key information leaks easily when fixed and unchanged content exists or easily exhaustive content is transmitted

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidinformation leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Sensitive information fields (serial number, random delay, optical power level mode) are extracted from the PLOAM message and encrypted separately, while non-sensitive fields (preamble, delimiter, upstream overhead) are transmitted in clear text. This extraction approach prevents information leakage by avoiding transmission of fixed or easily exhaustive content in encrypted form, while still protecting the critical sensitive data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If multiple PLOAM messages are transmitted separately, then each message can be processed independently, but the transmission efficiency is low and bandwidth is wasted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent processingVSAvoidtransmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple PLOAM messages are merged into a single transmitted message structure containing multiple fields. The message includes preamble, delimiter, upstream overhead, serial number, random delay, and optical power level mode fields all in one transmission unit. This merging approach improves transmission efficiency and reduces bandwidth waste while maintaining independent processing capability through clear field delimiters and structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Reliability

If the PLOAM message includes all possible information fields, then the message is complete, but unnecessary information is transmitted causing bandwidth waste

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage completenessVSAvoidbandwidth waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Different fields within the PLOAM message have different quality requirements. Sensitive fields (serial number, random delay, optical power level mode) are encrypted with high security quality, while non-sensitive fields (preamble, delimiter, upstream overhead) are transmitted in clear text with lower security requirements. This local quality differentiation ensures message completeness while reducing bandwidth waste by avoiding encryption of non-sensitive data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2439956B1Transmission method, assembling method and transmission device for physical layer operations, administration and maintenance, ploam, message in a passive optical network
Publication Date: 2019.11.20 ZTE CORP
  • EP2439956B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2439956B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5(a)
  • EP2439956B1 patent drawingFigure 5(b)~6

AI summary

The present invention provides a transmission method for a physical layer operations, administration and maintenance (PLOAM) message in a passive optical network. The method includes: a transmitter dividing a PLOAM message to generate more than two new PLOAM messages, each of which comprises at least a message identification (Message ID) field (1501); and the transmitter transmitting the new PLOAM messages identified with Message IDs (1502). The invention also provides an assembling method for a PLOAM message in a passive optical network and a transmission device for a PLOAM message in a passive optical network. By using the method of the invention, the invention improves the efficiency of the PLOAM message transmission, avoids bandwidth waste, and simultaneously improves the flexibility and timeliness of the PLOAM message transmission between an OLT and an ONU.