PON Protection Switching via Pre-Synchronized Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical network systems, particularly Passive Optical Networks (PONs), face significant downtime and service outages due to fiber faults or device failures, as existing protection switching methods are either costly or inefficient, leading to prolonged recovery times and disruption of service for a large number of users.
Innovation Solution
A method and device configuration that detects communication loss in optical network systems, initiates switching of functionality from a failed optical line termination device to a standby device, and sends control messages to prevent devices from entering an initial state, thereby reducing downtime and maintaining connection continuity by determining and setting timing settings for the affected devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard protection switching procedure is used, then fault tolerance is improved, but switching time increases to several minutes due to full re-initialization
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary actions by maintaining synchronization information and timing parameters in advance during normal operation. When a failure occurs, the standby OLT-LT can immediately activate with pre-synchronized data, avoiding the need for full re-initialization and ranging procedures, thus reducing switching time from minutes to seconds while maintaining fault tolerance
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the optical network devices during protection switching. Instead of resetting all parameters to initial values, the system selectively updates only the necessary timing and synchronization parameters from the standby unit, allowing rapid failover without complete re-initialization of the optical network devices
2Reliability
If full duplex system with all components duplicated is implemented, then reliability is improved, but system cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by implementing protection switching only at critical points in the network - specifically at the OLT-LT level and fiber trunk level - rather than duplicating all components. This selective approach provides adequate failure tolerance for shared resources while avoiding the prohibitive cost of full system duplication, as drop fibers and individual ONUs/ONTs remain simplex
Solution Approach 2:
The invention makes the standby OLT-LT universal by designing it to perform both standby protection functions and active service functions. The standby unit maintains synchronization and readiness to take over, allowing it to seamlessly transition to active service role, thus providing multi-functionality that reduces the need for dedicated redundant hardware for all components
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method and devices for fast protection of an optical network system, in particular for a Passive Optical Network (PON), such as a Gigabit-capable Passive Optical Network (GPON). In the method, it is detected that the communication from a first optical network device is lost. Switching of functionality is initiated from a first optical line termination device to a second optical line termination device, and a control message is sent from the second optical line termination device to the first optical network device such that the first optical network device is prevented from moving into initial state. Furthermore, the method comprises determining and setting timing settings for the first optical network device.