Optical Transponder Failure Response Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical transponders in networks do not distinguish between failures detected at port interfaces and line interfaces, leading to unnecessary alarm signals and laser shut-offs, increasing management overhead and redundancy.
Innovation Solution
Implementing optical transponders with configuration properties that allow for specific actions based on the interface detecting a failure or alarm signal, such as shutting off lasers or propagating alarms, reducing redundant signals and actions by configuring end nodes and regeneration nodes to respond appropriately based on their position and network protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If transponders are configured to generate alarm signals and shut off lasers upon detecting network failures at any communication interface, then network safety is improved, but management overhead increases due to processing redundant alarm signals and reactivating multiple lasers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the response to network failures by interface type. Transponders are configured to differentiate between port interface failures and line interface failures, applying distinct response rules to each segment. This segmentation eliminates the redundancy where all transponders uniformly shut off lasers and generate alarm signals for any failure, thereby reducing management overhead while maintaining network safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different response characteristics to different interface types. Port interfaces (used for inter-transponder communication) and line interfaces (used for customer premises equipment communication) have different failure response configurations. This localized differentiation ensures that only necessary lasers are shut off and only appropriate alarm signals are generated, reducing redundant management actions.
2Reliability
If transponders uniformly respond to all network failures by shutting off lasers and generating alarm signals, then network safety is maintained, but the number of redundant alarm signals and laser shut-off actions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the failure response based on interface type, creating distinct response pathways for port interface failures versus line interface failures. This segmentation prevents the uniform generation of redundant alarm signals and unnecessary laser shut-off actions, thereby reducing the quantity of management actions while maintaining network safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by configuring transponders to perform only the necessary response actions for each specific failure type. Instead of all transponders uniformly shutting off lasers and generating alarm signals for any failure, only the transponders with affected interfaces perform the appropriate partial response, eliminating excessive redundant actions.
3Ease of manufacture
If transponders do not distinguish between port interface failures and line interface failures, then configuration simplicity is maintained, but specific actions cannot be taken based on failure location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by configuring different response characteristics for different interface types within the transponder. Each transponder can be configured with specific response rules for port interfaces versus line interfaces, enabling adapted responses based on failure location while maintaining a unified transponder platform. This approach balances configuration simplicity with specific response capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves universality by designing a configurable transponder system that can adapt its response behavior based on interface type. The same transponder hardware platform can perform different response actions (laser shut-off, alarm signal generation, or no action) depending on which interface experiences the failure. This multi-functionality provides specific response capability while maintaining configuration simplicity through a unified configurable framework.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical transponder, system, method, and program wherein the transponder monitors for at least one of a failure or an alarm signal. In response to detecting a failure or alarm signal (communication), the transponder performs at least one of a predetermined action and propagating an alarm communication to a network, based on a configuration property. The transponder can have a configuration property specifying a predetermined action for shutting off a laser if an alarm signal indicating a network failure is detected. As an example, some transponders can be configured to either provide an alarm communication, and/or shut off a laser, depending upon which communication interface detects a network failure or receives an alarm signal. Also, other transponders can be configured to propagate existing alarm communications, without generating new alarm communications or shutting off lasers. In this manner, the number of alarm signals and laser shut offs can be reduced when a network failure is propagated through the network.