PON Remote Node Power Splitter for X2 Interface Latency Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current backhaul networks face challenges in scalability, flexibility, and latency, particularly in supporting coordinated multipoint (CoMP) transmission, due to high latency and limited capacity, which hinders the implementation of CoMP in mobile networks, especially in cell edges, and is exacerbated by the need for expensive direct point-to-point fiber links.
Innovation Solution
A passive optical network (PON) structure with a remote node using a power splitter to interconnect optical network units (ONUs) across different PONs, reducing latency and cost by bypassing intermediate electronic processing and allowing for flexible clustering of radio base stations, enabling low-latency and high-capacity interconnections between X2 interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If direct point-to-point fiber links are used to interconnect base stations, then latency is reduced and capacity is increased, but cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical circuit switch as an intermediary device that enables direct optical connectivity between base stations without requiring permanent point-to-point fiber links. The switch acts as a mediator that dynamically establishes optical connections only when needed, reducing both latency and the complexity of permanent fiber infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically establishes and releases optical connections between base stations based on real-time traffic requirements. Instead of static permanent connections, the optical circuit switch creates temporary direct optical paths only when data transmission is needed, optimizing both latency performance and resource utilization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If optical circuit switching is implemented to reduce latency, then connectivity flexibility is improved, but device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic processing and control mechanisms with optical switching mechanisms. The optical circuit switch operates in the optical domain, establishing connections through optical signals rather than electronic processing, thereby reducing device complexity and processing requirements while maintaining connectivity flexibility.
3Device complexity
If existing backhaul network architecture is used with OLT and electronic processing, then device complexity is managed, but latency and capacity are insufficient for CoMP requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the switching function from the electronic domain and places it in the optical domain. By taking out the electronic processing step from the signal path and performing switching directly in the optical domain, the system reduces latency while keeping device complexity manageable through specialized optical switching hardware.
Data Source
AI summary
A Passive Optical Networks (PONs) structure and a remote node in such a structure constituting at least a part of a backhaul network for supporting a Radio Access Network, in which a number of radio base stations are connected to optical networks units (ONUs) of said PONs structure. The ONUs of said PONs structure are grouped between separate PONs of said PONs structure. The ONUs of a separate PON are interconnected passively through a remote node of the PON in order to separate inter base station traffic of X2 interfaces from uplink and downlink data traffic of S1 interface heading from/to a core network via an optical line terminal (OLT). The remote node comprises of power splitter for enabling interconnection between ONUs of different PONs of said PONs structure.