Subsea Capacity Token Tracking for Transparent Spectrum Swaps

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems lack a centralized and transparent mechanism for tracking and managing swap capacity of submarine cables and other communication assets, relying on opaque, private, and disaggregated data, which complicates planning, negotiation, and management of telecommunications assets.

Innovation Solution

A blockchain-based asset controller system that utilizes a distributed ledger to generate and transfer asset tokens representing control of communication asset portions, enabling transparent and decentralized tracking of asset ownership and capacity swaps among entities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If subsea telecommunications assets are deployed to provide connectivity services, then communication capacity is improved, but tracking and monitoring of asset performance becomes complex and difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication capacityVSAvoidtracking complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a spectrum monitoring system as an intermediary component that automatically tracks subsea asset performance, frequency usage, and capacity metrics. This mediator system collects data from multiple assets and presents consolidated information, reducing the complexity of manual tracking while maintaining full visibility of asset performance and spectrum utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where performance data from subsea assets is continuously collected, analyzed, and used to optimize capacity allocation and frequency management. This feedback loop enables automatic adjustment of resource allocation based on actual usage patterns, reducing the need for complex manual intervention while improving overall system efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Quantity of substance

If multiple subsea assets are deployed to increase capacity, then communication bandwidth is improved, but spectrum interference and coordination difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication bandwidthVSAvoidspectrum interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic frequency allocation where operating parameters such as frequency and power are continuously adjusted based on real-time spectrum conditions and interference levels. This dynamic approach allows multiple assets to operate simultaneously by automatically adapting their parameters to avoid interference, thereby increasing total bandwidth while maintaining signal quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes operational parameters including frequency, power, and timing based on detected interference conditions. By automatically adjusting these parameters in response to spectrum usage by other assets, the system enables higher overall capacity while preventing harmful interference through continuous parameter optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional tracking methods are used for subsea assets, then initial deployment is simple, but real-time performance monitoring and capacity management become inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeployment simplicityVSAvoidmonitoring efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service capabilities where subsea assets automatically report their performance metrics, capacity usage, and operational status to a central monitoring system. This automated self-reporting eliminates the need for complex manual tracking procedures while maintaining deployment simplicity, as assets are equipped with built-in monitoring functionalities that operate autonomously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates preliminary configuration and monitoring setup during the asset deployment phase, so that tracking and performance monitoring capabilities are established before operational challenges arise. This preliminary action ensures that monitoring infrastructure is ready and integrated, maintaining deployment simplicity while enabling efficient real-time monitoring from the outset.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4555672B1Tracking subsea telecommunications asset capacity and spectrum
Publication Date: 2026.05.13 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP4555672B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4555672B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4555672B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A method (400) includes generating a first asset token (210a) that represents control, by a first entity (12a), of a portion (250) of a physical communication asset (20). The method includes publishing, to a distributed ledger (220), ownership of the first asset token and receiving, from a second entity (12b), a request (30) to control the portion of the physical communication asset represented by the first asset token. In response to receiving the request, the method includes removing the first asset token from circulation on the distributed ledger and generating a second asset token (210b) representing control, by the second entity, of the portion of the physical communication asset. The method also includes publishing, to the distributed ledger, ownership of the second asset token and transferring, using the distributed ledger, ownership of the second asset token to the second entity.