PON Interface Merging Data Flows Single SAR Engine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Passive Optical Networks (PONs) face high complexity and cost due to the need for multiple segmentation and reassembly (SAR) engines to handle multiple data flows, and conventional merging techniques like VC-merge prevent the use of conventional traffic metering mechanisms, leading to network inefficiencies and unavailability of certain data types.
Innovation Solution
A method that assigns unique identifiers to each data flow, segments and reassembles them without interleaving subunits, allowing a single SAR engine to process multiple flows using a common identifier, thereby reducing hardware complexity and enabling the use of lower-level identifiers for traffic metering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple SAR engines are used to handle multiple data flows, then the network can process multiple microflows concurrently, but the hardware complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple data flows (identified by different VPI/VCI pairs) into a single common flow that is processed by one SAR engine. This is achieved by mapping multiple VPI/VCI identifiers to a common identifier, allowing the network node to handle multiple microflows concurrently using a single SAR engine, thereby reducing hardware complexity while maintaining processing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The single SAR engine is designed to handle multiple data flows by accepting inputs with different VPI/VCI identifiers and processing them through a universal mechanism. The engine can identify and process packets from different microflows using a common identification field, making the SAR engine multi-functional rather than requiring dedicated engines for each flow
2Device complexity
If VC-merge technique is used to reduce network node complexity, then fewer SAR engines are needed, but conventional traffic metering mechanisms cannot be used and network efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mapping mechanism that translates between multiple VPI/VCI identifiers and a common identifier. This intermediary layer preserves the ability to identify and meter traffic from different microflows while enabling consolidation to a single SAR engine. The mapping structure acts as a mediator that maintains traffic differentiation capabilities without requiring separate processing engines
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the identification parameter structure by mapping multiple VPI/VCI pairs to a common identifier that can be processed by a single SAR engine. This parameter transformation allows traffic from different microflows to be distinguished and metered while being handled by unified processing logic, thereby maintaining network efficiency with reduced hardware complexity
3Device complexity
If a common flow is used to merge multiple microflows, then network node complexity is reduced, but the ability to identify and select desired units of information is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds an identification dimension by incorporating a common identifier field into the packet structure that preserves microflow identification capability. While multiple VPI/VCI pairs are mapped to a common flow, the packets retain identification information in the common identifier field, allowing network nodes to detect and select desired units of information based on this preserved identification dimension
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure is directed to techniques for merging multiple data flows in a Passive Optical Network (PON). The PON comprises an interface module and a plurality of network nodes connected to the interface module via an optical fiber link. Each of the network nodes further serves client devices. The client devices request multiple data flows, requiring the interface module to serve multiple data flows to a network node for delivery to the devices. The interface module merges received data flows to permit multiple flows to be processed by a single segmentation and reassembly (SAR) engine, reducing hardware cost and complexity within the node. However, subunits associated with different data flows within a merged data flow are not interleaved with one another. Instead, the subunits associated with an original unit of information are transmitted contiguously within the merged data flow, facilitating identification and reassembly of the subunits for a particular microflow.