PON Control Circuit Allocation for Power Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

In multiport PON systems, the number of accommodated ONUs and LLIDs often falls short of the system's capacity, leading to underutilization of resources and inefficient power usage in PON control circuits.

Innovation Solution

A station-side apparatus with upstream and downstream allocation circuits that dynamically allocate control frames to specific PON control and frame reproduction circuits based on added information, optimizing the use of PON control circuits and reducing unnecessary power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If multiple PON control circuits are provided in a multiport PON system to accommodate multiple ONUs, then the system capacity and number of accommodated ONUs increase, but the use efficiency of PON control circuits decreases when the number of ONUs falls short of system capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of accommodated ONUsVSAvoiduse efficiency of PON control circuits
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by enabling a single PON control circuit to handle control frames from multiple PON ports through the allocation circuit. Instead of dedicating one PON control circuit per PON port, the allocation circuit dynamically assigns control frames from any PON port to available PON control circuits, allowing each PON control circuit to serve multiple PON ports and increasing overall system utilization efficiency.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics through the allocation circuit that dynamically assigns control frames to PON control circuits based on real-time availability and load conditions. The allocation is not static but adapts to changing system conditions, allowing flexible distribution of control frame processing tasks across multiple PON control circuits to optimize resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Quantity of substance

If PON control circuits are provided for all PON ports, then the system can accommodate maximum number of ONUs, but power consumption increases due to underutilization of unused circuits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem capacityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the taking out principle by extracting the function of PON control circuit activation from the PON port configuration. Instead of automatically activating PON control circuits for all PON ports, the system extracts only the necessary PON control circuit functions based on actual ONU connection status. The allocation circuit identifies and activates only the minimum required PON control circuits, leaving others inactive to reduce power consumption while maintaining full system capacity availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If control frames are processed by dedicated PON control circuits for each PON port, then processing reliability is maintained, but resource utilization efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol frame processing reliabilityVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by separating the PON port interface function from the PON control circuit processing function. The allocation circuit acts as an intermediary that segments the control frame processing task, routing control frames from multiple PON ports to appropriate PON control circuits. This segmentation maintains processing reliability by ensuring dedicated PON control circuit handling while improving resource utilization through shared access among multiple PON ports.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 enhances the use efficiency of PON control circuits, allows for the powering off of unused circuits, and reduces overall power consumption and facility costs by optimizing the allocation of control frames and data frames in the optical transmission system.

Implementation Method 1

an optical transceiver configured to convert, into electrical signals, upstream frames including upstream control frames sent as optical signals

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric conversion: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3340543B1Station-side device in optical transmission system, and optical transmission system
Publication Date: 2020.05.06 NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORP
  • EP3340543B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3340543B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3340543B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An upstream allocation circuit (14) and a downstream allocation circuit (15) are provided in an OLT (1). For example, a superimposed frame obtained by bundling upstream frames (upstream control frames + upstream data frames) from all ONUs is input to the upstream allocation circuit (14) via a frame reproduction circuit (12-1). The superimposed frame may be generated at the stage of optical signals or generated after converting optical signals into electrical signals. The upstream allocation circuit (14) allocates each of the upstream control frames bundled into the superimposed frame to a predetermined PON control circuit (13) based on information (PON port number or LLID) added to the frames. The downstream allocation circuit (15) allocates, to a preset frame reproduction circuit (12), each downstream control frames output from the PON control circuits (13).