Virtualized Optical Transceiver Aggregating Parallel OTUk Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical transceivers struggle to support higher bit rate interfaces like 100 Gb/s while providing the benefits of Optical Transport Network (OTN) framing, forward error correction, and management for parallelized signals, which is essential for emerging network demands.
Innovation Solution
The development of an optical transceiver that frames and manages multiple Optical Channel Transport Unit layer k (OTUk) signals as a single virtualized OTN signal, incorporating OTN type OAM and Forward Error Correction attributes, allowing for the aggregation of 10 OTU2s or OTU2es to form a 100 Gigabit Ethernet signal, and integrates framing, OAM&P, and FEC within existing circuitry to support higher speed signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If optical transceivers use parallelized signals (10×10 Gb/s or 4×25 Gb/s) to achieve higher bit rates, then bandwidth capacity is improved, but the ability to provide integrated OTN framing, error correction, and management for the aggregate signal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple parallel optical signals (10×OTU2 or 4×OTU3) into a single aggregate optical signal while maintaining OTN framing and management capabilities. The optical transceiver combines the parallel signals at the optical layer and presents them as a unified 100 Gb/s signal with integrated OTN overhead, allowing the host system to treat it as a single managed entity rather than multiple separate signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical transceiver is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both an optical signal combiner for parallelized signals and an OTN framer with integrated OAM&P and FEC capabilities. This multi-functionality allows a single device to provide both high bandwidth capacity through parallel signal aggregation and carrier-grade OTN management for the aggregate signal.
2Speed
If optical transceivers support higher bit rate interfaces (100 Gb/s), then network speed is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the 100 Gb/s interface into multiple lower-speed parallel signals (10×10 Gb/s or 4×25 Gb/s) that can be independently framed and managed as separate OTUk signals. Each parallel signal undergoes independent OTN framing, allowing the transceiver to handle higher aggregate bit rates while maintaining manageable complexity through modular processing of individual lanes.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical transceiver acts as an intermediary device that bridges between parallelized optical signals and the host system's OTN management functions. It provides OTN framing, OAM&P, and FEC at the optical layer, serving as a mediator that enables carrier-grade management without requiring complex processing in the host system.
3Reliability
If optical transceivers integrate framing, OAM&P, and FEC for parallelized signals, then signal reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple OTN framing functions into a single integrated optical transceiver device. The framer integrates OTN framing, OAM&P processing, and FEC operations for parallelized signals within one device, improving reliability through coordinated processing while managing manufacturing complexity through functional integration.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an optical transceiver, method of mapping, and method of management utilizing a plurality of Optical Channel Transport Unit layer k (OTUk) links to form an aggregate signal, such as, for example, 10 OTU2s to provide a single 100 Gigabit Ethernet (100 GbE) signal. Specifically, the present invention enables use of existing circuitry and methods at lower speed signals, e.g. 10G, to support higher speed aggregate signals, e.g. 100G. The present invention may be utilized to support carrier-grade OTN applications with optical transceivers such as, for example, pluggable optical transceivers. In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention includes a method which receives a plurality of signals, frames each of the plurality of signals into an OTUk frame, and manages/monitors each of the plurality of signals in an OTUk frame in the aggregate.