Protected Transponded Services via Cross-Point Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical transport systems face limitations in protection options for transponded services, which are cost-effective but offer limited protection, and switched services, which provide more protection but at a higher entry cost due to additional hardware requirements, lacking a balanced solution for efficient restoration and routing.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a protected transponded service that integrates with control plane switched services, utilizing a line module with cross-point switching and Software Defined Networking (SDN) for mesh restoration, allowing for selective routing and bandwidth allocation to achieve efficient protection and restoration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If transponded services are used, then cost-effectiveness is improved, but protection options are limited and restoration is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines transponded services with switched services by integrating a transponder into a line module that also includes switch interface circuitry and access to a switch fabric. This merging allows the system to maintain the cost-effectiveness of transponded services while gaining the protection and restoration capabilities of switched services through shared hardware resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The line module is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a transponder for cost-effective service entry and as a switch interface for protected services. The module can selectively route services through either the direct transponded path or the switched path, providing universal functionality that adapts to different service requirements.
2Reliability
If switched services are used, then protection and restoration capabilities are improved, but entry cost increases due to additional hardware
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges switched service capabilities into the line module by incorporating switch interface circuitry that provides access to the switch fabric. This allows transponded services to access protection and restoration capabilities without requiring separate dedicated switch hardware, thereby reducing entry costs while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The line module serves multiple functions: it acts as a transponder for cost-effective service entry, provides switch interface capabilities for protected services, and can selectively route services through appropriate paths. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate hardware installations, reducing overall entry cost while providing comprehensive protection capabilities.
3Reliability
If bandwidth is allocated for protection paths, then service restoration is improved, but available bandwidth for primary services is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system discards the assumption that protection bandwidth must be permanently reserved. Instead, bandwidth is dynamically allocated: during normal operation, full bandwidth is available for primary services; when failures occur, the system recovers and reallocates bandwidth from failed service paths to protection paths, enabling restoration without permanent bandwidth loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The bandwidth allocation is dynamic rather than static. The system continuously monitors service status and adjusts bandwidth distribution in real-time, allocating bandwidth to protection paths only when needed for restoration. This dynamic approach maximizes bandwidth utilization for primary services while maintaining the capability for service restoration when failures occur.
Data Source
AI summary
A line module configured to provide a protected transponded service includes a plurality of ports; switch interface circuitry communicatively coupled to a switch module; and interface circuitry communicatively coupled to the plurality of ports and the switch interface circuitry, wherein the interface circuitry includes a cross-point switch between the plurality of ports and the switch interface circuitry; wherein bandwidth of the plurality of ports is greater than bandwidth of the switch interface circuitry to the switch module; and wherein the protected transponded service is configured between the plurality of ports directly via the interface circuitry and is selectively routed to the switch module via the switch interface circuitry for restoration thereof, responsive to a failure.