Virtual Lane Marking for High-Speed Network Resource Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-speed communication networks often underutilize bandwidth due to mismatch between data traffic capacity and the maximum capacity of high-speed interfaces, leading to inefficient use of network resources, particularly when data traffic bandwidth is below 100 Gbps, resulting in unnecessary resource waste.

Innovation Solution

The method involves shaping client signals into aggregate signals at a predefined data rate, identifying and marking active virtual lanes, and aggregating them onto a minimum number of optical transport units, optimizing the usage of high-speed interfaces by routing data through a subset of active PCS lanes, which are then mapped onto a minimum number of egress interfaces based on required capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If high-speed interfaces (100 GbE) are deployed to meet future bandwidth demands, then network capacity and speed are improved, but network resource utilization deteriorates when actual traffic bandwidth is below 100 Gbps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork transmission speedVSAvoidnetwork resource utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic lane activation where the number of active PCS lanes is adjusted based on actual traffic bandwidth requirements. When traffic is below 100 Gbps, only a subset of lanes is activated, allowing the system to adapt its capacity dynamically rather than operating at fixed maximum capacity, thus improving resource utilization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of the high-speed interface by selectively activating a subset of PCS lanes based on traffic bandwidth. This parameter adjustment allows the interface to operate at appropriate capacity levels matching actual demand, resolving the contradiction between having high capacity available and utilizing resources efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If multiple PCS lanes are activated to provide sufficient bandwidth capacity, then data transmission capacity is improved, but device complexity and resource management deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth capacityVSAvoidinterface configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the high-speed interface into multiple independent PCS lanes that can be selectively activated. This segmentation allows the system to provide sufficient bandwidth capacity by activating only the necessary number of lanes while simplifying configuration and resource management, as each lane operates independently and can be controlled individually based on traffic requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3013008B1Transmitting data traffic in a communication network
Publication Date: 2019.02.06 ALCATEL LUCENT SA
  • EP3013008B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3013008B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3013008B1 patent drawingFigure 3a

AI summary

It is disclosed a method for transmitting a data traffic in a communication network. The method comprises: distributing the data traffic onto a subset of active virtual lanes among a set of available virtual lanes; marking each available virtual lane by superimposing a respective multiframe upon the data of the virtual lane so as to distinguish the active virtual lanes from the other available virtual lanes, and, on the basis of the marking, mapping the active virtual lanes to data units suitable for transmitting the data traffic through the communication network.