Transmission Apparatus Standby Path Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fault uninterrupted switching in optical networks requires constant power supply to standby system components, even during normal operation, leading to unnecessary power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A transmission apparatus and method that includes a detection unit to identify fault predictive signs, allowing the control unit to supply power only to the standby system path when necessary, enabling normality confirmation before switching from the active to the standby path, thereby reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the standby system path is constantly operated and checked for normality, then rapid path switching can be achieved when faults occur, but electric power must be continuously supplied to standby components such as transponders even during normal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting fault predictive signs before actual faults occur. When predictive signs are detected, the control unit activates the standby communication unit and confirms normality of the second path in advance, so that when switching is needed, it can be done rapidly without bit missing. This resolves the contradiction by performing necessary preparation only when predicted faults indicate potential issues, rather than continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of the standby communication unit based on detected fault predictive signs. During normal operation, the standby unit remains inactive to save power. When predictive signs are detected, the system transitions the standby unit to an active state for normality confirmation, and then to a ready state for rapid switching. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining reliability and reducing power consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the standby system path is kept inactive to reduce power consumption, then power usage is minimized, but rapid path switching cannot be achieved when faults occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary activation and normality confirmation of the standby path when fault predictive signs are detected, before actual switching is required. This preliminary action ensures that when a fault occurs, the standby path is already verified and ready for immediate use, achieving rapid switching without requiring continuous operation. This resolves the contradiction by preparing the standby system in advance only when predictive signs indicate potential faults.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection unit monitors fault predictive signs and automatically triggers the activation and normality confirmation process for the standby path. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for continuous manual monitoring or constant power supply, as the system autonomously prepares the standby path only when predictive signs indicate potential issues, thereby achieving both power savings and rapid switching capability.
3Reliability
If continuous monitoring of the standby system path is performed, then fault detection reliability is improved, but device complexity and operation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of fault predictive signs using the detection unit, and only activates the standby path and performs normality confirmation when such signs are detected. This approach maintains high fault detection reliability by continuously monitoring for predictive signs, while avoiding the complexity of continuously operating and testing the entire standby system. The monitoring is streamlined to detect predictive signs rather than continuously verifying full path functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A transmission apparatus includes a first communication unit, a second communication unit, a detection unit, a control unit, and a selection unit. The first communication unit uses a first path for communication, when electric power is supplied. The second communication unit uses a second path for communication, when electric power is supplied. The detection unit detects a fault predictive sign. The control unit supplies no electric power to the second communication unit when the detection unit does not detect the fault predictive sign. The control unit starts supplying electric power to the second communication unit and performs normality confirmation of the second path when the detection unit detects the fault predictive sign, before switching from the first path to the second path. The selection unit selects and outputs, when the first communication unit and the second communication unit have received signals, either the signal received by the first communication unit or the signal received by the second communication unit.