Signal Mapping and 64B/66B Encoding for QSFP-DD Client Transport

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Solution Overview

Problem

Telecom carriers and data center operators prefer less expensive optical modules like QSFP-DD for transmitting Ethernet signals, but these modules struggle to handle client signals such as OTN frames without complex and costly circuit emulators.

Innovation Solution

A signal processing device that maps multiple client signals into frames like ODUCn or GMP frames, performs 64B/66B encoding, and uses synchronization headers to distinguish between signal and idle data, enabling transmission through lower-cost QSFP-DD optical modules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If expensive optical modules like CFP2-DCO or on-board DCO are used, then transmission performance is improved, but device cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission performanceVSAvoiddevice cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs inexpensive QSFP-DD optical modules instead of expensive CFP2-DCO or on-board DCO modules. By using lower-cost optical modules combined with signal processing techniques (mapping client signals to Ethernet-compatible frames and performing 64B/66B encoding), the system achieves acceptable transmission performance while significantly reducing device cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms client signals (such as OTN frames) into Ethernet-compatible signal formats through mapping and encoding processes. This parameter transformation allows inexpensive Ethernet-optimized optical modules to handle diverse client signals that were previously requiring expensive specialized modules

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If QSFP-DD optical modules are used to reduce cost, then device cost decreases, but capability to handle client signals like OTN frames deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice costVSAvoidcapability to handle client signals

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes QSFP-DD optical modules universal by implementing a signal processing device that can map various client signals (Ethernet, OTN, and other formats) into Ethernet-compatible frame structures. This multi-functionality allows a single inexpensive optical module type to handle diverse client signal types that previously required different specialized modules

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The signal processing device acts as an intermediary between diverse client signals and the QSFP-DD optical module. It performs mapping to convert client signals into Ethernet-compatible frames and applies 64B/66B encoding, enabling the optical module to process various signal types without requiring native support for each format

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If circuit emulators are added to enable QSFP-DD modules to handle client signals, then signal compatibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal compatibilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex circuit emulator hardware with a signal processing device that performs mapping and 64B/66B encoding. This substitution achieves the same signal compatibility function with a different technical approach that integrates more naturally with the QSFP-DD module architecture, maintaining signal compatibility while avoiding the need for separate circuit emulator components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20260046032A1Signal processing device and signal processing method

Publication Date: 2026.02.12 1FINITY INC

AI summary

A signal processing device is connected to an optical transmitter that transmits an Ethernet signal by optical modulation based on a data signal. The signal processing device includes a mapper unit configured to map a plurality of client signals into a frame signal, an encoder configured to encode the frame signal to generate blocks of a number of bits corresponding to the Ethernet signal, and a signal outputter configured to generate the data signal from the blocks and outputs the data signal to the optical transmitter.